Abstract Background: Placental dysfunction forms the pathological basis of several high-risk pregnancy conditions including pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and post-dated pregnancy. Conventional ultrasound and Doppler studies provide indirect assessment of placental function and often detect abnormalities at a later stage. Placental elastography, by evaluating placental stiffness, offers a non-invasive method for direct assessment of placental tissue characteristics. Objectives: To evaluate placental stiffness using elastography in pregnancies between 20 and 42 weeks of gestation, correlate elastographic findings with Doppler parameters, and assess the diagnostic performance of placental elastography. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 25 pregnant women between November 2025 and January 2026. Placental elastography findings were correlated with umbilical artery Doppler indices and cerebroplacental ratio. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, correlation analysis, and calculation of sensitivity and specificity. Results: Placental stiffness was significantly higher in pregnancies complicated by PIH, IUGR, and post-dated gestation compared to normal pregnancies. Increased placental stiffness showed strong correlation with abnormal Doppler indices. Placental elastography demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for detecting Doppler-defined placental insufficiency. Conclusion: Placental elastography is a sensitive and specific adjunct to Doppler ultrasound for evaluating fetoplacental health in high-risk pregnancies.
International Journal of Medical Science and Advanced Clinical Research (IJMACR) (Fri,) studied this question.