Role Of Shear Wave Elastography In Assessment Of Placental Elasticity In Normal And High-Risk Pregnancies In Third Trimester.

Objective: To assess the elasticity of placenta using shear wave elastography in normal and high-risk pregnancies in the third trimester. METHODS: The prospective, observational study was conducted at the Dow Institute of Radiology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from September 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023, and comprised singleton pregnant women during 28-40 weeks of gestation who were referred from the obstetric department. The subjects were divided into normal pregnancy group A and high-risk pregnancy group B. Risk factors include gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, placenta previa, morbidly adherent placenta, old primigravida, teen age and morbid obesity were noted. All the patients underwent grey scale, Doppler ultrasonography and shear wave elastography. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. RESULTS: Of the 104 subjects, 78(75%) were in group A and 26(25%) were in group B. The overall mean age was 34.2±3.59 years. In group B, mean placental shear wave velocity was 2.34±1.17m/sec and elasticity was 24.41±25.51kPa compared to 1.42±0.55 m/sec and 13.6±10.23kPa in group A (p<0.05). Significant positive correlation was found between shear wave velocity and elasticity values in both groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Shear wave elastography was found to be a useful technique in detecting placental stiffness, and can be used as an adjunct to the currently available ultrasonographic methods in high-risk pregnancies.

Normal variations in cerebral venous anatomy and their potential pitfalls on 2D TOF MRV examination: Results from a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To assess normal venous anatomy of the cranium and its anatomical variants. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at Radiology Department of Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of patients aged 2-75 years and having undergone magnetic resonance imaging of brain from April 2015 to April 2016. Magnetic resonance venography was reviewed to evaluate the cerebral venous system. All magnetic resonance venography examinations were performed using a contiguous two-dimensional time-of-flight venography technique, and were reviewed by two consultant radiologists.. RESULTS: Out of 204 patients, 96(47.05%) were males and 108(52.94%) were females. Overall Magnetic Resonance Venography examinations were found to be normal in 94(46.07%), patients, while 110(53.92%) had some of the normal anatomical variants. There was presence of superior sagittal sinus and straight sinus in 204(100%) cases. Inferior sagittal sinus was seen in 179(86.05%). Transverse sinus was hypoplastic in 8(3.92%) on the right and 80(39.2%) on the left side. Hypoplastic sigmoid sinus was present in 51(25%) patients and aplastic sigmoid sinus in 2(0.98%) patients. Flow gaps were also observed in 22(10.78%) patients. Occipital sinus was identified in 17(8.3%), vein of Trolard in 98(48.03%) and vein of Labbe in 105(51.47%). CONCLUSIONS: Two-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance venography examination was found to be a useful imaging tool showing great sensitivity in determining the normal cerebral venous anatomy.

Unilateral renal agenesis with subseptate uterus and sacrococcygeal teratoma: A unique triad.

Unilateral renal agenesis (URA) is a rare condition with a reported incidence of 0.93-1.8 per 1000 autopsies. It is commonly diagnosed as an incidental finding on imaging. URA is frequently associated with other genitourinary anomalies. Different associations have been described in both males and females, however, to our knowledge, it has not been reported with subseptate uterus (SSU) and sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) in the same individual. Here, we present a unique case of URA with SSU and SCT.