Three-dimensional evaluation of the placenta: Review of the literature

Abstract

The introduction of the three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound made feasible the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the placenta's characteristics like the volume, the surface rendered imaging, the vascularization and the blood flow. These novel techniques may assist the early detection of pregnancies at high risk for fetal growth restriction (FGR), pre-eclampsia (PET) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and help clinicians to detect pregnancies at risk earlier and to assess new therapeutic strategies in order to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, in this new technique there are still limitations regarding the assessment of the placenta employing 3D ultrasound in everyday clinical practice. In the following article, we perform a review of the literature regarding the importance of 3D evaluation of the placenta in pregnancy.