title: Placental morphologic features and chorionic surface vasculature at term are highly correlated with 3-dimensional sonographic measurements at 11 to 14 weeks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the potential for 3-dimensional sonographic measurement of the early placenta in predicting ultimate placental morphologic features at delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective cohort study, we collected 3-dimensional sonographic volume sets of placentas at 11 to 14 weeks and then collected the placentas after delivery. The sonographic data were manipulated to obtain various novel measurements of early gross placental morphologic features and the umbilical cord insertion location. The placental weight, chorionic plate area, cord location, and mean chorionic vascular density were obtained from the delivered postpartum placentas. Analyses were performed to identify potential early placental characteristics that were correlated with the ultimate placental morphologic features. The placental weight, cord marginality, and mean chorionic vascular density served as the outcome measures of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measurements of the early placental volume correlated with the delivered placental weight. An irregular early placental shape, as measured by sonography, was significantly inversely correlated with placental weight (P < .05). The placental morphologic index, a measure of a flatter placenta, was inversely correlated with both the placental weight and chorionic plate area, possibly indicating the importance of placental thickness even in the first trimester before villous arborization. In addition, early sonographic measures of the location of the umbilical cord insertion were significantly correlated with the ultimate marginality of the cord insertion as well as the mean chorionic vascular density (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many important ultimate placental morphologic features are likely predetermined early in pregnancy. Three-dimensional sonography may play an increasing role in the in utero evaluation of the early placenta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, 2000 Courtyard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. schwartn@obgyn.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Nadav
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandel
authors.forename: Oleksandr
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shlakhter
authors.forename: Jaclyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coletta
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pessel
authors.forename: Ilan E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Timor-Tritsch
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Salafia
mesh_terms: D002823:Chorion / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging