Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

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VOLUME 16 , ISSUE 1 ( January-March, 2022 ) > List of Articles

Original Scientific Paper

Three-dimensional SlowflowHD for Assessment of Fetal Organ and Placental Microvasculature

Toshiyuki Hata

Citation Information : Hata T. Three-dimensional SlowflowHD for Assessment of Fetal Organ and Placental Microvasculature. Donald School J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2022; 16 (1):4-10.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10009-1915

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 22-04-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate spatial fetal organ and placental microvasculature using three-dimensional (3D) SlowflowHD. Methods: Seventy normal pregnancies at 11−39 weeks of gestation were studied to demonstrate spatial fetal organ (brain, lung, liver, spleen, adrenal gland, and kidney) and placental microvasculature using 3D SlowflowHD with a new transabdominal mechanical matrix probe. Results: In the first trimester of pregnancy, the whole-body vascularity of the fetus could be clearly depicted. Fetal intracranial vascularity including brain arteries and the venous system could be clearly identified. Characteristic spatial microvasculature of the fetal lung, liver, spleen, adrenal gland, and kidney could be clearly recognized. The microvasculature density of each organ increased with advancing gestation. Spatial relationships among fetal organs were also noted. The increased density of the placental microvasculature with advancing gestation was evident. Conclusion: 3D SlowflowHD can clearly demonstrate spatial fetal organ and placental microvasculature. This modality may provide novel information on normal and abnormal developments of fetal organs and the placenta in clinical practice and future research.


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  1. Hata T, Mori N, Yamamoto K, et al. SlowflowHD for detection of small fetal peripheral vasculature. Donald Sch J Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019;13(4):155–158. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10009-1603
  2. Hernandez-Andrade E, Romero R. Visualization of fetal tongue circulation using Doppler ultrasound. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2020;55(4):559–560. DOI: 10.1002/uog.20393
  3. Hata T, Koyanagi A, Yamanishi T, et al. Fetal abdominal blood vessels and organ microvasculature detected by slowflowHD. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2020;56(6):955–957. DOI: 10.1002/uog.22043
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  7. Hata T, Kanenishi K, Yamamoto K, et al. Microvascular imaging of thick placenta with fetal growth restriction. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018;51(6):837–839. DOI: 10.1002/uog.18837
  8. Hata T, Mori N, AboEllail MAM, et al. Advances in color doppler in obstetrics. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2019;11(11):1–12. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10006-1641
  9. Hata T, Koyanagi A, Yamanishi T, et al. Superb microvascular imaging with doppler luminance using 18-MHz probe to visualize fetal intra-abdominal blood vessels and organ microvasculature. J Perinat Med 2020;48:184–188. DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2019-0411
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