T2* weighted fetal MRI and the correlation with placental dysfunction.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Fetal Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Transverse relaxation time (T2*) on MRI is linked to tissue oxygenation and morphology.
• Understanding fetal organ T2* in normal pregnancies is crucial for identifying deviations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe T2*-weighted MRI in fetal organs during normal pregnancies.
• To investigate correlations between fetal organ T2* and placental T2*, birthweight deviation, and fetal blood flow redistribution.

Main Methods:

• T2*-weighted MRI was conducted on 126 fetuses across gestation (23+6 to 41+3 weeks).
• T2* values were measured in fetal organs (brain, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen) and the placenta.
• Statistical analyses included linear regression and ANOVA to assess correlations with gestational age, birthweight group, and placental function.

Main Results:

• Fetal organ T2* negatively correlated with gestational age in normal birthweight (BW) pregnancies.
• Significant correlations were found between BW group and T2* z-scores in the fetal heart, kidney, lung, and spleen.
• Fetal organ T2* positively correlated with BW deviation and placental T2* (except for the fetal liver).
• T2* values in the fetal heart, kidneys, and spleen correlated with fetal blood flow redistribution (Middle Cerebral Artery Pulsatility Index).

Conclusions:

• Fetal organ T2* reflects fetal oxygenation and morphological changes.
• T2*-weighted MRI is a promising tool for assessing fetal well-being in relation to placental function and potential dysfunction.