Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Ex Vivo Perfusion of the Rodent Placenta
Published on: May 30, 2019
Two-Compartment Perfusion MR IVIM Model to Investigate Normal and Pathological Placental Tissue
Alessandra Maiuro1,2, Giada Ercolani3, Francesca Di Stadio1
1Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Background:
Perfusion and diffusion coexist in the placenta and can be altered by pathologies. The two-perfusion model, where f1 and, f2 are the perfusion-fraction of the fastest and slowest perfusion compartment, respectively, and D is the diffusion coefficient, may help differentiate between normal and impaired placentas.
Purpose:
Investigate the potential of the two-perfusion IVIM model in differentiating between normal and abnormal placentas.
Study-Type:
Retrospective, case-control.
Population:
43 normal pregnancy, 9 fetal-growth-restriction (FGR), 6 small-for-gestational-age (SGA), 4 accreta, 1 increta and 2 percreta placentas.
Field Strength/Sequence:
Diffusion-weighted-echo planar imaging sequence at 1.5 T.
Assessment:
Voxel-wise signal-correction and fitting-controls were used to avoid overfitting obtaining that two-perfusion model fitted the observed data better than the IVIM model (Akaike weight: 0.94). The two-perfusion parametric-maps were quantified from ROIs in the fetal and maternal placenta and in the accretion zone of accreta placentas. The diffusion coefficient D was evaluated using a b ≥ 200 sec/mm2 -mono-exponential decay fit. IVIM metrics were quantified to fix f1 + f2 = fIVIM .
Statistical-Tests:
ANOVA with Dunn-Sidák's post-hoc correction and Cohen's d test were used to compare parameters between groups. Spearman's coefficient was evaluated to study the correlation between variables. A P-value<0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference.
Results:
There was a significant difference in f1 between FGR and SGA, and significant differences in f2 and fIVIM between normal and FGR. The percreta + increta group showed the highest f1 values (Cohen's d = -2.66). The f2 between normal and percreta + increta groups showed Cohen's d = 1.12. Conversely, fIVIM had a small effective size (Cohen's d = 0.32). In the accretion zone, a significant correlation was found between f2 and GA (ρ = 0.90) whereas a significant negative correlation was found between fIVIM and D (ρ = -0.37 in fetal and ρ = -0.56 in maternal side) and f2 and D (ρ = -0.38 in fetal and ρ = -0.51 in maternal side) in normal placentas.
Conclusion:
The two-perfusion model provides complementary information to IVIM parameters that may be useful in identifying placenta impairment.
Level Of Evidence:
2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 1.
More Related Videos
08:08Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
Published on: June 18, 2013
09:33Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks
Published on: March 29, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:20Compartment Models: Two-Compartment Model
01:15Two-Compartment Open Model: IV Infusion
The model illustrates the decrease in plasma drug concentration from the central compartment with a specific equation. It shows that under steady-state conditions, the drug's input rate...
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this...
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging