Fetal Lung Echo Texture in Pregnancies at Risk for Pulmonary Hypoplasia

Pulmonary hypoplasia is associated with severe respiratory distress immediately after birth and frequently leads to neonatal death. In this study, we compared the fetal lung echo texture in pregnancies at high and low risk for pulmonary hypoplasia. Ultrasonic tissue heterogeneity was determined by a dynamic range calculation. This quantification uses a dithering technique based on the Floyd-Steinberg algorithm, in which the pixels are transformed into a binary map. Pregnancies at high risk for pulmonary hypoplasia showed decreased fetal lung heterogeneity on ultrasound imaging. This image-processing technique may allow improved risk stratification, patient counseling, and treatment approaches for pulmonary hypoplasia.