Imaging of Fetal and Maternal Diseases in Pregnancy: 3rd Edition

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 2788

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ultrasound (US) is a standard approach for the initial evaluation of fetal anatomy and maternal conditions during pregnancy, allowing for a real-time examination, and is widely available and cost-effective.

In recent years, magnetic resonance (MR) has become a useful element in the decision-making process for fetal abnormalities and maternal diseases in pregnancy, proving to offer unequivocal advantages over ultrasound.

The primary goals of this Special Issue are to describe the state-of-the-art imaging techniques for pregnant patients presenting with fetal or maternal diseases, discuss the morphological and functional information provided by US and MR that is useful in management and guiding therapy, and present new research developments in the field of prenatal imaging.

Dr. Gabriele Masselli
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fetal
  • MRI
  • US
  • placenta
  • pregnancy
  • maternal diseases
  • imaging
  • surgery
  • obstetrics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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11 pages, 717 KiB  
Article
Stratifying Antenatal Hydronephrosis: Predicting High-Grade VUR Using Ultrasound and Scintigraphy
by Niklas Pakkasjärvi, Sofia Belov, Timo Jahnukainen, Reetta Kivisaari and Seppo Taskinen
Diagnostics 2024, 14(4), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14040384 - 9 Feb 2024
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Abstract
(1) Background: Antenatal hydronephrosis (AHN), detected in approximately one percent of prenatal ultrasounds, is caused by vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in 15–21% of cases, a condition with significant risks such as urinary tract infections and renal scarring. Our study addresses the diagnostic challenges of [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Antenatal hydronephrosis (AHN), detected in approximately one percent of prenatal ultrasounds, is caused by vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in 15–21% of cases, a condition with significant risks such as urinary tract infections and renal scarring. Our study addresses the diagnostic challenges of VUR in AHN. Utilizing renal ultrasonography and scintigraphy, we developed a novel scoring system that accurately predicts high-grade VUR, optimizing diagnostic precision while minimizing the need for more invasive methods like voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG); (2) Methods: This retrospective study re-analyzed renal ultrasonography, scintigraphy, and VCUG images from infants admitted between 2003 and 2013, excluding cases with complex urinary anomalies; (3) Results: Our analysis included 124 patients (75% male), of whom 11% had high-grade VUR. The multivariate analysis identified visible ureter, reduced renal length, and decreased differential renal function (DRF) as primary predictors. Consequently, we established a three-tier risk score, classifying patients into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups for high-grade VUR, with corresponding prevalences of 2.3%, 22.2%, and 75.0%. The scoring system demonstrated 86% sensitivity and 79% specificity; (4) Conclusions: Our scoring system, focusing on objective parameters of the visible ureter, renal length, and DRF, effectively identifies high-grade VUR in AHN patients. This method enhances diagnostics in ANH by reducing reliance on VCUG and facilitating more tailored and less invasive patient care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging of Fetal and Maternal Diseases in Pregnancy: 3rd Edition)
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Case Report
“Lazarus Response” When Feto-Maternal Microchimerism Kicks in: Spontaneous Remission in Refractory Primary Mediastinal B Cell Lymphoma Following Twin Pregnancy
by Radu Andrei Tomai, Sabina Iluta, Adrian Bogdan Tigu, Madalina Nistor, Anamaria Bancos, Diana Cenariu, Ciprian Jitaru, Sergiu Patcas, Delia Dima, David Kegyes, Sanda Buruiana, Mihnea Zdrenghea, Alina Daniela Tanase, Ciprian Tomuleasa and Romeo Micu
Diagnostics 2024, 14(18), 2084; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14182084 - 20 Sep 2024
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Abstract
Background: Spontaneous remission of cancer is a rare and poorly understood phenomenon characterized by complete or partial remission of a malignancy in the absence of or with inadequate treatment. The underlying mechanism for such occurrences is poorly understood, however, immune mechanisms seem [...] Read more.
Background: Spontaneous remission of cancer is a rare and poorly understood phenomenon characterized by complete or partial remission of a malignancy in the absence of or with inadequate treatment. The underlying mechanism for such occurrences is poorly understood, however, immune mechanisms seem to play an important role in such cases. In recent years increasingly more data have become available in favor of the clinical benefit of low levels of chimerism in hematologic malignancies. One such instance of naturally occurring low-level chimerism is feto-maternal microchimerism which has been shown to influence cancer progression and, in some instances, to be a protective factor against malignancy. Case report: We report a case of a young female patient with aggressive primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma refractory to two lines of chemo-immunotherapy achieving sustained complete metabolic remission of tumor while pregnant with twins. Results: A focus on feto-maternal microchimerism during and after pregnancy revealed transient levels of feto-maternal microchimerism in the peripheral blood of the patient as measured by quantifying the Y-chromosome-linked SRY gene. Conclusions: Microchimerism presents significant potential for enhancing our comprehension of disease mechanisms, uncovering novel therapeutic targets, and refining diagnostic and treatment approaches, especially concerning cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Imaging of Fetal and Maternal Diseases in Pregnancy: 3rd Edition)
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