Measuring intrauterine growth in healthy pregnancies using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging

Ariunzaya Amgalan, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, 3900 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
Kushal Kapse, Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
Dhineshvikram Krishnamurthy, Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
Nicole R. Andersen, Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
Rima Izem, Division of Biostatistics & Study Methodology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
Ahmet Baschat, Center for Fetal Therapy, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
Jessica Quistorff, Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
Alexis C. Gimovsky, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
Homa K. Ahmadzia, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
Catherine Limperopoulos, Division of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology, Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA. climpero@childrensnational.org.
Nickie N. Andescavage, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-23-2022

Journal

Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association

DOI

10.1038/s41372-022-01340-6

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine in utero fetal-placental growth patterns using in vivo three-dimensional (3D) quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI). STUDY DESIGN: Healthy women with singleton pregnancies underwent fetal MRI to measure fetal body, placenta, and amniotic space volumes. The fetal-placental ratio (FPR) was derived using 3D fetal body and placental volumes (PV). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the association of each measurement with increasing gestational age (GA) at MRI. RESULTS: Fifty-eight (58) women underwent fetal MRI between 16 and 38 completed weeks gestation (mean = 28.12 ± 6.33). PV and FPR varied linearly with GA at MRI (r = 0.83, r = 0.89, p value < 0.001). Fetal volume varied non-linearly with GA (p value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We describe in-utero growth trajectories of fetal-placental volumes in healthy pregnancies using qMRI. Understanding healthy in utero development can establish normative benchmarks where departures from normal may identify early in utero placental failure prior to the onset of fetal harm.

Department

Pediatrics

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