title: Foetal volumetry using magnetic resonance imaging in intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to perform volumetry of foetuses with and without growth restriction, and identify deviations in organ growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 growth restricted and 19 normal foetuses were scanned once during pregnancy at gestational age 20.53-36.57 weeks. MRI scans were performed on a 1.5T system using ssFSE sequences. Manual segmentation of whole body, brain, heart, lung, liver, thymus and kidney volume was performed. Data on the severity of foetal growth restriction and pregnancy outcome was collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in foetal whole body volume and volume of all internal organs except the brain in growth restricted foetuses. A brain:liver ratio above 3.0 was associated with a 3.3 fold increase in risk of perinatal mortality (95% CI=1.68-6.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI provides an accurate assessment of foetal organ growth. It may have a role to play in monitoring disease severity and the effect of future interventions.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, DuCane Road, London, UK. mellisa.damo@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mellisa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Damodaram
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Story
authors.forename: Elisanda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eixarch
authors.forename: Prachi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patkee
authors.forename: Abhilasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Sailesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutherford
mesh_terms: D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005333:Fetus / Q000196:embryology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014781:Viscera / Q000196:embryology*