Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

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VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3 ( July-September, 2021 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Superb Microvascular Imaging of the Placenta

Keywords : Placental abnormalities, Pregnancy, Superb microvascular imaging

Citation Information : Superb Microvascular Imaging of the Placenta. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2021; 15 (3):287-294.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10009-1709

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-09-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Similar to ultrasound fetal morphological assessment during pregnancy, the placenta and umbilical cord should also be screened around the 20th week of gestation. Additionally, in pathologic conditions such as fetal growth restriction (FGR), preeclampsia, and various placental abnormalities, detail morphological and/or functional evaluations using Doppler methods are required. Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) is a new blood flow imaging technique that employs a unique algorithm to minimize motion artifacts by eliminating signals based on the analysis of tissue movement. While observing a placenta using SMI, dendritic blood flow from the umbilical cord indicating fetal blood flow can be seen on the background of scatter flow indicating maternal intervillous blood flow that beats in line with the mother's heartbeat. Using this modality, placental pathological findings can be obtained antenatally, especially histological findings of infarction and avascular villi. In the present review, SMI findings in the various pathologic placenta are demonstrated. These investigations may improve clinical practice in cases with placental abnormalities such as preeclampsia and FGR.


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