title: Shear Wave Elastography in the Living, Perfused, Post-Delivery Placenta.
abstract: The placenta is the critical interface between the mother and the developing fetus and is essential for survival and growth. Despite the widespread use of ultrasound imaging and Doppler in obstetrics and gynecology and the recent growth of elastographic technologies, little is known about the biomechanical (elastic shear wave) properties of the placenta and the range of normal and pathologic parameters that are present. This study uses a well-developed protocol for perfusing whole placentas, post-delivery, to maintain tissue integrity and function for hours. In this model, the placenta is living, whole and maintained within normal physiologic parameters such as flow, arterial pressure and oxygen, throughout examination by ultrasound, Doppler and shear wave elastography. The preliminary results indicate that normal placental tissue on the fetal side has shear wave speeds on the order of 2 m/s, in a range similar to those of animal livers. Some abnormalities are found outside this range, and thus, elastographic measures of the placenta may provide useful assessments related to the state of the tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McAleavey
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA. Electronic address: kevin.parker@rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Juvenal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ormachea
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stodgell
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Katzman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eva K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Pressman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D004548:Elasticity; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Elastography; Obstetrics; Placenta; Shear waves; Tissue characterization