Toward Clinical Implementation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Placental Function

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Medicine
• Radiology
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Placental insufficiency is a critical condition in perinatal medicine, leading to fetal growth restriction or preeclampsia.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being explored for direct evaluation of placental function, complementing ultrasound and Doppler velocimetry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical aspects of placental insufficiency.
• To summarize anthropometric, visual, and quantitative MRI methods for assessing placental function.
• To highlight recent advancements and discuss challenges for clinical implementation.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on MRI techniques for placental insufficiency.
• Categorization of methods into anthropometry, visual assessment, and quantitative evaluations.
• Analysis of T2 values, hypoxia indicators (T2*), and perfusion metrics (IVIM, ASL).

Main Results:

• Anthropometric and visual MRI assessments are clinically accessible due to simplicity.
• Quantitative MRI methods offer objective biomarkers but face challenges in standardization and availability.
• Recent advancements show potential for improved placental function evaluation.

Conclusions:

• MRI offers diverse methods for assessing placental insufficiency, with quantitative approaches being promising but requiring further development for clinical integration.
• Addressing challenges like standardization and clinician awareness is crucial for the successful translation of advanced MRI techniques into routine clinical practice.