Gabriele Masselli MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Roberto Brunelli, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marco De Spirito, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maurizio Anceschi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Angelo Pittalis, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gianfranco Gualdi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

It is hoped that new tools for evaluating the maternal placental interface and placental perfusion may allow improved understanding of pregnancy complicated by placental vascular pathology. Aim of our study was to assess and correlate the placental perfusion in normal and IUGR-compromised pregnancies.  

Placental MR studies was performed in 25 pregnant to rule out placenta accreta disorders and in 15 pregnant complicated by IUGR. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and informed written consent was obtained from all patients. All scans used a 1.5 T with phase array coil. Contrast enhanced 3D GRE T1 with volumetric acquisition (VIBE) sequence was acquired before and during first pass of a gadolinium chelates, and it was repeated 7 times consequently. To investigate any differences in placental perfusion between normal pregnancies and those complicated by IUGR, perfusion measurements using a multi-slice image processing technique were done. Distribution and extension of perfusion and kinetic enhancement curves were evaluated.  

Placental perfusion maps show a significant difference between the IUGR and normal pregnancies in the distribution and extension of perfusion (p<0.01). The placental tissue in normal pregnancies exhibited marked uptake of contrast material followed by a slow decline, whereas in pregnancies with IUGR the placental tissue in the perfusion areas shows a reduction of the grade and of the velocity of the uptake. Subsequent analysis showed that the proportion of placentas with low perfusion rate was higher in the IUGR group that in the normal group (p<0.01).  

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging has great potential in the non-invasive assessment of abnormal placental function and is a powerful tool in investigating the intervillous blood flow in human normal and IUGR placentas.  

The Mapping and the quantification of the placental perfusion can give important information about the degree of ischaemia, and the management of pregnancies complicated IUGR can be improved.

Masselli, G, Brunelli, R, De Spirito, M, Anceschi, M, Pittalis, A, Gualdi, G, Dynamic Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging in Evaluating Placental Perfusion.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6020776.html