title: Imaging and assessment of placental function.
abstract: The placenta is the vital support organ for the developing fetus. This article reviews current ultrasound (US) methods of assessing placental function. The ability of ultrasound to detect placental pathology is discussed. Doppler technology to investigate the fetal, placental, and maternal circulations in both high-risk and uncomplicated pregnancies is discussed and the current literature on the value of three-dimensional power Doppler studies to assess placental volume and vascularization is also evaluated. The article highlights the need for further research into three-dimensional ultrasound and alternative methods of placental evaluation if progress is to be made in optimizing placental function assessment.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Fionnuala M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*