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Attenuation imaging as a new ultrasonographic application for identifying placental haematoma
  1. Masahiro Yamaguchi1,2,
  2. Takeshi Umazume2,
  3. Kiwamu Noshiro2 and
  4. Hidemichi Watari2
  1. 1Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tenshi Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
  2. 2Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
  1. Correspondence to Dr Takeshi Umazume; takeuma{at}med.hokudai.ac.jp

Abstract

We present a case in which attenuation imaging (ATI), a recently developed ultrasonographic application, facilitated the diagnosis of preplacental and postplacental haematoma. Placental abruption is a serious condition that affects the prognosis of infants and is difficult to diagnose. Ultrasonography is the primary imaging modality that complements the clinical findings in the diagnosis; however, its sensitivity is low, and improved diagnostic accuracy is desired. Here, we found that placental haematomas on the placental fetal surface observed at 19 weeks of gestation were indistinct from placental parenchyma in B-mode ultrasonographic imaging. In ATI, the placental parenchyma was colour-mapped, but the haematoma portion was not, which helped identify the haematoma. ATI, which also colour-maps uniform tissues, did not colour-map vessels within the placenta. ATI has a breakthrough potential for improving the diagnosis of placental abruption.

  • pregnancy
  • ultrasonography

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Footnotes

  • Contributors MY, TU, KN and HW participated in the medical treatments of the patient, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.