Recent innovations in placental MRI: Integrating visualization and functional imaging.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Imaging
• Fetal Development

Background:

• The placenta is vital for fetal development, regulating exchange between mother and fetus.
• Placental dysfunction is linked to serious obstetric complications like pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction.
• Current in vivo assessment of placental function is limited in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in structural, microstructural, and functional placental MRI.
• To highlight quantitative and multimodal MRI approaches for placental evaluation.
• To discuss challenges and future directions for clinical translation of placental MRI.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on placental MRI techniques.
• Emphasis on quantitative and multimodal imaging approaches.
• Discussion of integrated and multicontrast MRI frameworks.

Main Results:

• MRI provides noninvasive, whole-organ assessment of placental morphology, microstructure, perfusion, and oxygenation.
• Quantitative and multimodal MRI can capture spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the placenta.
• Emerging techniques can differentiate maternal, fetal, and placental tissue compartments.

Conclusions:

• Placental MRI is a powerful tool for evaluating placental structure and function throughout gestation.
• Continued methodological advancements are needed to translate placental MRI into clinical practice.
• Large longitudinal studies are essential for establishing robust clinical measures of placental health.