17: Photoacoustic imaging of the uterine cervix: a novel method to characterize tissue composition

Mid-trimester sonographic cervical length is a powerful predictor of spontaneous preterm birth (NEJM 1996) and also identifies primiparous women at risk for cesarean delivery, due to poor progress in labor (NEJM 2008). Cervical remodeling is an important component of the common pathway of parturition. Therefore, assessing changes in cervical biochemistry could provide information about cervical status beyond that provided by cervical length and elastography. Photoacoustic imaging is a non-invasive ultrasound-based technology that captures acoustic signals emitted by the components of cervical tissue in response to laser pulses, which allows for the determination of the collagen-to-water ratio (CWR).
Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Oral Concurrent 1 Source Type: research