title: Performance of an automatic quantitative ultrasound analysis of the fetal lung to predict fetal lung maturity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of automatic quantitative ultrasound analysis (AQUA) texture extractor to predict fetal lung maturity tests in amniotic fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Singleton pregnancies (24.0-41.0 weeks) undergoing amniocentesis to assess fetal lung maturity (TDx fetal lung maturity assay [FLM]) were included. A manual-delineated box was placed in the lung area of a 4-chamber view of the fetal thorax. AQUA transformed the information into a set of descriptors. Genetic algorithms extracted the most relevant descriptors and then created and validated a model that could distinguish between mature or immature fetal lungs using TDx-FLM as a reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gestational age at enrollment was (mean [SD]) 32.2 (4.5) weeks. According to the TDx-FLM results, 41 samples were mature and 62 were not. The imaging biomarker based on AQUA presented a sensitivity 95.1%, specificity 85.7%, and an accuracy 90.3% to predict a mature or immature lung.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal lung ultrasound textures extracted by AQUA provided robust features to predict TDx-FLM results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Institut Clínic de Ginecologia, Obstetrícia i Neonatologia, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacio
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.forename: Mònica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Terrón
authors.forename: Giuseppe A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rattá
authors.forename: Elisenda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonet-Carné
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Amat-Roldán
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gratacós
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*