Shear wave velocity measurement of the placenta is not limited by placental location

Christopher Edwards; Erika Cavanagh; Sailesh Kumar; Vicki L Clifton; Danielle J Borg; Jacob Priddle; Marie-Luise Wille; Christopher Drovandi; Davide Fontanarosa

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2022.11.016

Shear wave velocity measurement of the placenta is not limited by placental location

Placenta. 2023 Jan:131:23-27. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.11.016. Epub 2022 Dec 1.

Authors

Christopher Edwards¹, Erika Cavanagh², Sailesh Kumar³, Vicki L Clifton⁴, Danielle J Borg⁴, Jacob Priddle⁵, Marie-Luise Wille⁶, Christopher Drovandi⁵, Davide Fontanarosa⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Level 3 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia. Electronic address: c8.edwards@qut.edu.au.
² School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Level 3 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.
³ School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Level 3 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia. Electronic address: Sailesh.kumar@mater.uq.edu.au.
⁴ Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Level 3 Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
⁵ School of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.
⁶ School of Mechanical, Medical, and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling, and Manufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.
⁷ School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.

PMID: 36469959
DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.11.016

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasound elastography shows diagnostic promise via the non-invasive determination of placental elastic properties. A limitation is a potential for inadequate measurements from posterior placentae. This study aimed to analyse placental position's influence on measures of shear wave elastography (SWV).

Methods: SWV elastography measurements were obtained via ultrasound at 24, 28 and 36 weeks gestation from 238 pregnancies. . The placental position was labelled as either anterior, posterior or fundal/lateral. Average SWV measurements (m/s) and the corresponding standard deviations (SD) were used for data analysis.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between SWV recorded from anterior (1.33 ± 0.19)m/s and posterior (1.39 ± 0.18)m/s placentae (p < 0.001). However, the average sampling depth between these groups was significantly different (3.98 cm vs. 5.38 cm, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between SWV when measurements were compared at similar depths, regardless of placental location. The addition of placental position to a previously developed mixed-effects model confirmed placental position did not result in improved SWV measurements. In this model, sampling depth remained the best predictor for SWV.

Conclusions: This study showed that placental position does not influence the accuracy or reliability of SWV.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Elasticity Imaging Techniques*
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Placenta* / diagnostic imaging
Pregnancy
Reproducibility of Results
Ultrasonography