ABSTRACT

We aimed to test the null hypothesis that relative apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC) and relative signal intensity values (rSIHASTE) do not change in the evaluation of placental maturation with advancing gestational age.

Fifty-six fetuses with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) data were enrolled in this retrospective study. Fetuses were analyzed in three different gestational age groups: group 1, 18–23 weeks; group 2, 24–28 weeks; and group 3, 29–38 weeks. The rADC (mean ADC/ADCglobe) and rSIHASTE values (mean SIHASTE/SIglobe) were obtained. Two radiologists experienced in fetal MRI who were blinded to the patient information reviewed MRI images independently. Kruskal-Wallis Test was used to compare the rADC and rSIHASTE with gestational age groups. The agreement between the two blinded readers was tested using Krippendorff’s alpha ratio.

Both placental rADC values and placental rSIHASTE values were not significantly different between the gestational age groups (P = 0.688 and P = 0.280, respectively). rADC and rSIHASTE measurements were reproducible with a good agreement between the two readers (Krippendorff’s alpha ratio was 0.613 and 0.778, respectively).

The rADC and rSIHASTE values do not change with advancing gestational age.