The assessment of placental blood vessels by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed in order to compare the performance of classical two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) ultrasound, both with power Doppler technology, in the visualization of the placental vascular network during ongoing pregnancy.


METHODS
15 pregnant volunteers in the third trimester of pregnancy were examined by 2D and 3D power Doppler ultrasound. The aim of the study was to follow the branching of the main stem vessel as far as possible distally in the placenta. In addition, we assessed the visualization rate of terminal parts of uteroplacental circulation, radial and spiral arteries.


RESULTS
There was no difference in the visualization of primary placental stem vessels by 2D and 3D power Doppler. However, 3D power Doppler performs better distally, with statistically significant differences at the level of secondary stem (p = 0.03), and even more prominent differences at the level of tertiary stem vessels (p = 0.0008). There was no difference in the visualization rate of radial and spiral arteries (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We found 3D superior to 2D ultrasound with power Doppler technology in the determination of the distal vascular branches of the fetal placental blood vessels.
Matijevic
Ratko
R
University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zagreb, Sveti Duh Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia. ratko.matijevic@zg.tel.hr
Kurjak
Asim
A
D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D021041:Placental Circulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*