Comparison of Placental Volume in Early Pregnancy Using Multiplanar and VOCAL Methods

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 241 - 245
• Main Authors: Nowak, P.M, Nardozza, L.M.M, Araujo Júnior, E, Rolo, L.C, Moron, A.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Early Diagnosis; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Female; First trimester of pregnancy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gestational Age; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Internal Medicine; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Organ Size; Placenta; Placenta - diagnostic imaging; Placentation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First - physiology; Prospective Studies; Three-dimensional imaging; Ultrasonography; Volume; Placenta; Volume; First trimester of pregnancy; Three-dimensional imaging; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Fetal membrane; Early pregnancy; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2007.12.003

Abstract In this study we aimed to compare the multiplanar and VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis) methods in the evaluation of placental volume during the first trimester of pregnancy. This was a prospective cross-sectional study involving 37 pregnant women between 7 and 10 weeks of gestation. All volumetric measurements were performed by a single examiner using an endocavitary volumetric probe (3D5-8EK). Placental volume was measured on three-dimensional ultrasound by the VOCAL method using 12° and 30° rotational angles and by the multiplanar method using sequential sections of the placenta obtained at intervals of 1.0 mm. Pearson's correlation coefficient ( r ) was used to evaluate the relation between placental volume and gestational age. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), paired Student's t -test ( P ) and Bland–Altman plot were used to compare both methods. There was a strong correlation between placental volume and gestational age ( r = 0.791 for VOCAL 12°, r = 0.801 for VOCAL 30° and r = 0.783 for multiplanar). There was a strong correlation between placental volume measured by the VOCAL 12° and the VOCAL 30° (ICC = 0.994, confidence interval [0.998; 0.997]) and the multiplanar methods (ICC = 0.991, confidence interval [0.983; 0.995]). First trimester placental volume measurements obtained using the multiplanar and VOCAL methods are concordant.