Three‐dimensional reconstruction of human placental vascular network using in‐vitro MRI data

Abstract

We summarize here our work to construct three-dimensional (3D) digital models of the human placental vascular network using data obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the placenta in vitro. Our preliminary findings indicate that these digital models provide a promising method with which to study placental vasculature. Correspondence to: Dr Z. J. Wang, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NanFang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No.1838, North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, 510515 China (e-mail: wangzhijian2046@sina.com) In order to explore a method that images placental vessels in vitro by MRI and uses these data to construct 3D digital models of normal human placental vascular networks, we collected six full-term placentae and separated them into three groups. In the first group, perfusion fluid was mixed with the contrast agent Gd-DTPA (experimental Group 1), in the second group

Safety and efficacy of a novel three‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging model for uterine incision in placenta previa

“…Consistent with the findings of Palacios Jaraquemada et al . in a prospective study of 300 cases showing that MRI could outline the anatomy of the invasion, our previous study also indicated that the branches and anastomoses of the vascular structures could be clearly visualized using a 3D MRI model . In the present study, the anatomic details of placenta (including the morphology, attachment site, and placental margin) were inspected as well, and the distance to anatomic landmarks was directly measured.…”

“…We previously reported a three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction model for the human placental vascular network using in vitro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data . This 3D MRI model not only aided visualization of the placental vessels, but also enabled accurate localization of the placental attachment and margin.…”

Postpartum computed tomography angiography of the fetoplacental macrovasculature in normal pregnancies and in those complicated by fetal growth restriction

“…In this study, we visualized up to 11 generations of the fetoplacental blood vessels including chorionic and stem villi vessels. Previous studies on placental magnetic resonance angiography and placental CTA and magnetic resonance angiography have demonstrated four to six generations of fetoplacental blood vessels. The improvement of vessel visualization of our study might rely on the specific preparation of the placenta and the semi‐automatic 3D image segmentation.…”

“…Further knowledge of the fetoplacental macrovasculature may improve our understanding of the placental pathology associated with FGR. Imaging technologies such as computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography provide new insights into the entire fetoplacental vasculature. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of postpartum placental CTA with subsequent automatic three‐dimensional (3D) image segmentation as a method for analyzing the fetoplacental macrovasculature in normal and FGR pregnancies.…”

Postpartum placental CT angiography in normal pregnancies and in those complicated by diabetes mellitus

“…Imaging technologies such as placental computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) have a great potential to investigate the fetoplacental vasculature in threedimensions (3D). By using these methods the fetoplacental vasculature has been investigated in normal pregnancies [26][27][28][29], however to the best of our knowledge CTA has never been performed in pregnancies complicated by different types of DM.…”