Evaluation of placental volume at 7-10+6 weeks of pregnancy by 3D-sonography

Placenta. 2009 Jul;30(7):585-9. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2009.04.008. Epub 2009 May 28.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to establish normative data for placental volume (PV) at 7-10+6 weeks of gestation using three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS). The cross-sectional study involved 70 healthy pregnancies between 7 and 11 weeks. The VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-aided Analysis) method with a 30 degrees rotation angle and six planes was used for volumetric calculations. Regression models were constructed to assess the correlation between PV and crown-rump length (CRL) adjusted by the determination coefficient (R2). The method proposed by Royston and Wright was used to establish the 2.5th; 10th; 50th; 90th and 97.5th percentiles (percentile=mean+KxSD). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman graphs and Student's paired t-tests were used to assess intra- and interobserver variability. PV ranged from 1.7 to 42.6 cm3, with a mean of 13.6cm3 (+/-9.4cm3). There was a strong correlation between PV and CRL; the exponential equation was the model that best expressed the correlation between them (R2=0.76). For CRL between 9 and 40 mm, the mean PV increased 10.5 times, while CRL increased only 4.4 times. Inter- and intraobserver correlation were excellent (ICC=0.979 and 0.971, respectively). Bland-Altman graphs indicated a good reproducibility with a mean intraobserver and interobserver difference of 0.2 cm3 (95% CI: -0.7-1.2cm3) and -0.2cm3 (95% CI: -1.3-0.9cm3), respectively. Reference limits were generated for first trimester PV assessed by 3DUS using the VOCAL method. There is a strong correlation between PV and CRL. Placental volume obtained through this method was highly reproducible.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Observer Variation
  • Placenta / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / methods*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / standards*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult