title: Assessment of fetal well-being with magnetic resonance.
abstract: The application of magnetic resonance techniques in the assessment of fetal growth, fetal growth patterns and fetal health was assessed. Eighty-four sets of fetal images were obtained using a fast-scan magnetic resonance imaging technique. Measurements were made of fetal subcutaneous fat thickness, uterine cavity length and width, fetal and uterine cross-sectional areas and fetal volume. Fetal area and fetal volume measurements were found to correlate well with birth weight. Measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness may prove to be a means of differentiating between those fetuses who are constitutionally as opposed to pathologically large or small. Thirteen women had additional spectroscopic studies carried out. Twelve of the women had normal pregnancies. One woman had a twin pregnancy in which one twin died. 31P phosphorus spectra were obtained from seven of the normal pregnancies. In the remainder, the depth of the abdominal wall prevented spectra being obtained from the placenta. Differences in phosphorus metabolites were obtained from the placenta of the dead twin compared to those from the healthy pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Liverpool, U.K.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Garden
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Weindling
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001724:Birth Weight; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology