Differentiation of placenta percreta through MRI features and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Objectives: To identify whether parameters measured from diffusion kurtosis and intravoxel incoherent motion help diagnose placenta percreta.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 75 patients with PAS disorders including 13 patients with placenta percreta and 40 patients without PAS disorders. Each patients underwent diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), perfusion fraction (f), pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), mean diffusion kurtosis (MK) and mean diffusion coefficient (MD) were measured by the volumetric analysis and compared. MRI features were also analyzed and compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of different diffusion parameters and MRI features for distinguishing placental percreta.

Results: D* was an independent risk factor from DWI for predicting placenta percreta with sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 76%. Focal exophytic mass remained as independent risk factor from MRI features for predicting placenta percreta with sensitivity of 72.7% and specificity of 88.1%. When the two risk factors were combined together, the AUC was the highest, 0.880 (95% CI 0.8-0.96).

Conclusion: D* and focal exophytic mass were associated with placenta percreta. A combination of the 2 risk factors can be used to predict placenta percreta.

Critical relevance statement: A combination of D* and focal exophytic mass can be used to differentiate placenta percreta.

Keywords: Diffusion kurtosis imaging; Diffusion-weighted MRI; Intravoxel incoherent motion; Placenta accreta spectrum disorders.