Placental Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Method to Evaluate Placental Function In Vivo

Anne Sørensen; Marianne Sinding

doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2019.10.009

Placental Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Method to Evaluate Placental Function In Vivo

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2020 Mar;47(1):197-213. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2019.10.009.

Authors

Anne Sørensen¹, Marianne Sinding²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Reberbansgade 15, Aalborg 9000, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, Aalborg 9000, Denmark. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Reberbansgade 15, Aalborg 9000, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Sdr. Skovvej 15, Aalborg 9000, Denmark.

PMID: 32008669
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2019.10.009

Abstract

This article describes the use of placental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxation times in the in vivo assessment of placental function. It focuses on T2*-weighted placental MRI, the main area of the authors' research over the past decade. The rationale behind T2*-weighted placental MRI, the main findings reported in the literature, and directions for future research and clinical applications of this method are discussed. The article concludes that placental T2* relaxation time is an easily obtained and robust measurement, which can discriminate between normal and dysfunctional placenta. Placenta T2* is a promising tool for in vivo assessment of placental function.

Keywords: Fetal growth restriction; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Placental MRI; Placental dysfunction; Relaxation time; T2* relaxation; T2*-weighted MRI.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Female
Fetal Growth Retardation / diagnosis*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Placenta / pathology*
Pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis / methods*