Mathematical Modelling Methods for Placental and Fetal MRI Analysis

Abnormalities in placental and fetal development can lead to preterm birth, neurological and mobility impairment, and stillbirth. While Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides enhanced visualisation and pathological markers for diagnosis and treatment, its full potential in assessing Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) remains unexplored. FGR is a condition where the fetus does not reach their genetic growth potential, occurring in 5-10% pregnancies and leading to two-thirds of stillbirths in the UK. MRI provides an in-vivo view of placental vasculature and can provide perfusion details for clinical assessment.
This thesis investigates using mathematical modelling to visualise and identify flow-model placental vasculature from MRI. The research aims to develop novel visualisations of placental function and improve the visualisation of feto-placental vasculature in-vivo.
Our results demonstrated the successful identification of feto-placental vasculature from MRI, which visually correlated to post-delivery imaging. Significant variations were observed between FGR and control placentas, as well as across gestation in longitudinal studies. This research establishes a novel framework for patient-specific flow modelling of feto-placental vasculature from MRI, providing clinicians with additional visualisation for assessing placental insufficiency.