Multi‐modal functional MRI to explore placental function over gestation

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate, visualize and quantify the physiology of the human placenta in several dimensions - functional, temporal over gestation, and spatial over the whole organ. METHODS: Bespoke MRI techniques, combining a rich diffusion protocol, anatomical data and T2* mapping together with a multi-modal pipeline including motion correction and extracted quantitative features were developed and employed on pregnant women between 22 and 38 weeks gestational age including two pregnancies diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. RESULTS: A multi-faceted assessment was demonstrated showing trends of increasing lacunarity, and decreasing T2* and diffusivity over gestation. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained multi-modal acquisition and quantification shows promising opportunities for studying evolution, adaptation and compensation processes.