R. Matijevic, A. Kurjak
The assessment of placental blood vessels by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound
Objective: This study was performed in order to compare
the performance of classical two dimensional (2D)
and three dimensional (3D) ultrasound, both with power
Doppler technology, in the visualization of the placental
vascular network during ongoing pregnancy.
Methods: 15 pregnant volunteers in the third trimester
of pregnancy were examined by 2D and 3D power Doppler
ultrasound. The aim of the study was to follow the
branching of the main stem vessel as far as possible
distally in the placenta. In addition, we assessed the
visualization rate of terminal parts of uteroplacental
circulation, radial and spiral arteries.
Results: There was no difference in the visualization of
primary placental stem vessels by 2D and 3D power
Doppler. However, 3D power Doppler performs better
distally, with statistically significant differences at the
level of secondary stem (p = 0.03), and even more prominent
differences at the level of tertiary stem vessels
(p = 0.0008). There was no difference in the visualization
rate of radial and spiral arteries (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: We found 3D superior to 2D ultrasound
with power Doppler technology in the determination of
the distal vascular branches of the fetal placental blood
vessels.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 30, 02/2002
Pages: 26 - 32
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