Researchers find MRI useful in detecting pregnancy complications

December 5, 2009 by Shawn Douglas  
Filed under: News, Pregnancy

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Researchers have found that the use of MRI to be accurate and useful for detecting abnormalities during pregnancy.

During the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, researchers from the University of California, San Diego presented their finding from a study involving the use of MRI to detect pregnancy complications.

The team said that the increasingly common condition of placenta accreta, which is potentially life-threatening to the expectant mother, was able to be detected by MRI over 90 percent of the time it was used.

Lead researcher and radiologist Reena Malhotra, M.D. told the attendees, “Due to the increase in cesarean sections and other surgeries that leave scarring on the uterine wall, coupled with women giving birth later in life, the incidence of accreta has increased dramatically over the past 20 years.”

Placenta accreta occurs when the tissues surrounding the fetus are buried too deeply in the uterus. During pregnancy, such deep attachment may cause the uterine wall to tear, potentially causing severe hemorrhaging in the mother. If undiagnosed, severe cases of placenta accreta may lead to hysterectomy or even death.

But researchers are optimistic that MRI technology can detect the condition early, allowing for careful planning and preparation by medical staff and the mother. Due to the potential deadliness of the condition, women diagnosed with the condition are considered to be “high risk”.

Dr. Malhotra said: “Having placenta accreta is not necessarily a bad prognostic indicator for the pregnancy. It is not knowing about the condition that is potentially life threatening. Accreta needs to be diagnosed ahead of time so that delivery can be planned.”

“Our findings demonstrate that MRI is an extremely useful adjunct to ultrasound for assessing this potentially life-threatening obstetric condition,” she added.

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