Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration
Abstract Background Current clinical post-mortem imaging techniques do not provide sufficiently high-resolution imaging for smaller fetuses after pregnancy loss. Post-mortem micro-CT is a non-invasive technique that can deliver high diagnostic accuracy for these smaller fetuses. The purpose of the s...
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doaj-e6dda15082554818b594ec83f9a4405c2021-08-29T11:36:28ZengBMCBMC Medical Imaging1471-23422021-08-0121111010.1186/s12880-021-00658-5Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite macerationIan Craig Simcock0Susan Cheng Shelmerdine1Dean Langan2Guy Anna3Neil James Sebire4Owen John Arthurs5Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenDepartment of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenGreat Ormond Street Hospital for Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthDepartment of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenGreat Ormond Street Hospital for Children, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthDepartment of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenAbstract Background Current clinical post-mortem imaging techniques do not provide sufficiently high-resolution imaging for smaller fetuses after pregnancy loss. Post-mortem micro-CT is a non-invasive technique that can deliver high diagnostic accuracy for these smaller fetuses. The purpose of the study is to identify the main predictors of image quality for human fetal post-mortem micro-CT imaging. Methods Human fetuses were imaged using micro-CT following potassium tri-iodide tissue preparation, and axial head and chest views were assessed for image quality on a Likert scale by two blinded radiologists. Simple and multivariable linear regression models were performed with demographic details, iodination, tissue maceration score and imaging parameters as predictor variables. Results 258 fetuses were assessed, with median weight 41.7 g (2.6–350 g) and mean gestational age 16 weeks (11–24 weeks). A high image quality score (> 6.5) was achieved in 95% of micro-CT studies, higher for the head (median = 9) than chest (median = 8.5) imaging. The strongest negative predictors of image quality were increasing maceration and body weight (p < 0.001), with number of projections being the best positive imaging predictor. Conclusions High micro-CT image quality score is achievable following early pregnancy loss despite fetal maceration, particularly in smaller fetuses where conventional autopsy may be particularly challenging. These findings will help establish clinical micro-CT imaging services, addressing the need for less invasive fetal autopsy methods.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-021-00658-5Micro-CTHuman foetusesPost-mortem imagingMacerationImage quality |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ian Craig Simcock Susan Cheng Shelmerdine Dean Langan Guy Anna Neil James Sebire Owen John Arthurs |
spellingShingle |
Ian Craig Simcock Susan Cheng Shelmerdine Dean Langan Guy Anna Neil James Sebire Owen John Arthurs Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration BMC Medical Imaging Micro-CT Human foetuses Post-mortem imaging Maceration Image quality |
author_facet |
Ian Craig Simcock Susan Cheng Shelmerdine Dean Langan Guy Anna Neil James Sebire Owen John Arthurs |
author_sort |
Ian Craig Simcock |
title |
Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration |
title_short |
Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration |
title_full |
Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration |
title_fullStr |
Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration |
title_full_unstemmed |
Micro-CT yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration |
title_sort |
micro-ct yields high image quality in human fetal post-mortem imaging despite maceration |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Medical Imaging |
issn |
1471-2342 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Current clinical post-mortem imaging techniques do not provide sufficiently high-resolution imaging for smaller fetuses after pregnancy loss. Post-mortem micro-CT is a non-invasive technique that can deliver high diagnostic accuracy for these smaller fetuses. The purpose of the study is to identify the main predictors of image quality for human fetal post-mortem micro-CT imaging. Methods Human fetuses were imaged using micro-CT following potassium tri-iodide tissue preparation, and axial head and chest views were assessed for image quality on a Likert scale by two blinded radiologists. Simple and multivariable linear regression models were performed with demographic details, iodination, tissue maceration score and imaging parameters as predictor variables. Results 258 fetuses were assessed, with median weight 41.7 g (2.6–350 g) and mean gestational age 16 weeks (11–24 weeks). A high image quality score (> 6.5) was achieved in 95% of micro-CT studies, higher for the head (median = 9) than chest (median = 8.5) imaging. The strongest negative predictors of image quality were increasing maceration and body weight (p < 0.001), with number of projections being the best positive imaging predictor. Conclusions High micro-CT image quality score is achievable following early pregnancy loss despite fetal maceration, particularly in smaller fetuses where conventional autopsy may be particularly challenging. These findings will help establish clinical micro-CT imaging services, addressing the need for less invasive fetal autopsy methods. |
topic |
Micro-CT Human foetuses Post-mortem imaging Maceration Image quality |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-021-00658-5 |
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