Normative placental structure in pregnancy using quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Imaging
• Fetal Development

Background:

• Placental development is critical for fetal well-being.
• Quantitative in-vivo assessment of placental development is limited.
• Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers potential for detailed placental characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative quantitative metrics for placental morphometry, texture, and microstructure.
• To apply advanced quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) techniques to in-vivo placentas.
• To create reference data for placental development across gestation.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 195 women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies.
• MRI scans performed between 16- and 40-weeks' gestation.
• Morphometric and textural metrics derived from T2-weighted images; microstructural metrics from diffusion-weighted images.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in placental volume, thickness, and elongation observed with advancing gestation.
• Increasing placental texture variability noted with gestational age.
• No significant variation in placental microstructure with gestational age; elongation differed by fetal sex.

Conclusions:

• Quantitative MRI provides normative data for placental morphometry, texture, and microstructure.
• These metrics serve as vital references for in-vivo placental development.
• Enables better understanding of placental function and early detection of mal-development.