The role of shear wave elastography in the assessment of placenta previa-accreta.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the prediction of morbidly adherent placenta.

METHODS

Forty-three women with normal placental location and 26 women with anteriorly localized placenta previa were recruited for this case-control study. Placental elasticity values in both the groups were determined by SWE imaging.

RESULTS

SWE values were higher in the placenta previa group in all regions than in normal localized placentas (p < .01). However, there was no statistically significant difference between SWE values of placenta previa with and without morbidly adherent placenta (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Placental stiffness is significantly higher in placenta previa than normal localized placentas. However, we could not demonstrate any statistically significant difference in the elasticity values between the placenta previa with and without accreta.