The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health

Sonoelastography, a novel ultrasound-based technique, is emerging as a valuable tool in prenatal diagnostics by quantifying tissue elasticity and stiffness in vivo. This narrative review explores the application of sonoelastography in assessing maternal and fetal health, with a focus on cervical, pl...

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Main Author: Abdulrahman M. Alfuraih
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/47
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author Abdulrahman M. Alfuraih
author_facet Abdulrahman M. Alfuraih
author_sort Abdulrahman M. Alfuraih
collection DOAJ
description Sonoelastography, a novel ultrasound-based technique, is emerging as a valuable tool in prenatal diagnostics by quantifying tissue elasticity and stiffness in vivo. This narrative review explores the application of sonoelastography in assessing maternal and fetal health, with a focus on cervical, placental, pelvic floor, and fetal tissue evaluations. In the cervix, sonoelastography aids in predicting preterm birth and assessing labor induction success. For the placenta, it provides insights into conditions like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction through elasticity measurements. Assessing fetal tissues, including the lungs, liver, and brain, sonoelastography offers a non-invasive method for evaluating organ maturity and detecting developmental anomalies. Additionally, pelvic floor assessments enable better management of childbirth-related injuries and postpartum recovery. While current studies support its safety when used within established limits, further research is necessary to confirm long-term effects. Future advancements include refining protocols, integrating machine learning, and combining sonoelastography with other diagnostic methods to enhance its predictive power. Sonoelastography holds promise as an impactful adjunct to conventional ultrasound, providing quantitative insights that can improve maternal and fetal outcomes in prenatal care.
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spelling doaj-art-b7c3407d10104652aae9e6f46aaf18d92025-01-10T13:16:33ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-12-011514710.3390/diagnostics15010047The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal HealthAbdulrahman M. Alfuraih0Radiology and Medical Imaging Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 16278, Saudi ArabiaSonoelastography, a novel ultrasound-based technique, is emerging as a valuable tool in prenatal diagnostics by quantifying tissue elasticity and stiffness in vivo. This narrative review explores the application of sonoelastography in assessing maternal and fetal health, with a focus on cervical, placental, pelvic floor, and fetal tissue evaluations. In the cervix, sonoelastography aids in predicting preterm birth and assessing labor induction success. For the placenta, it provides insights into conditions like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction through elasticity measurements. Assessing fetal tissues, including the lungs, liver, and brain, sonoelastography offers a non-invasive method for evaluating organ maturity and detecting developmental anomalies. Additionally, pelvic floor assessments enable better management of childbirth-related injuries and postpartum recovery. While current studies support its safety when used within established limits, further research is necessary to confirm long-term effects. Future advancements include refining protocols, integrating machine learning, and combining sonoelastography with other diagnostic methods to enhance its predictive power. Sonoelastography holds promise as an impactful adjunct to conventional ultrasound, providing quantitative insights that can improve maternal and fetal outcomes in prenatal care.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/47prenatal diagnosissonoelastographycervical elasticityfetal tissue assessmentplacental stiffnesspreterm birth prediction
spellingShingle Abdulrahman M. Alfuraih
The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health
Diagnostics
prenatal diagnosis
sonoelastography
cervical elasticity
fetal tissue assessment
placental stiffness
preterm birth prediction
title The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health
title_full The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health
title_fullStr The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health
title_full_unstemmed The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health
title_short The Emerging Role of Sonoelastography in Pregnancy: Applications in Assessing Maternal and Fetal Health
title_sort emerging role of sonoelastography in pregnancy applications in assessing maternal and fetal health
topic prenatal diagnosis
sonoelastography
cervical elasticity
fetal tissue assessment
placental stiffness
preterm birth prediction
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/47
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