摘要：Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound in visualizing placental cord insertion (PCI) at different
gestational ages in order to recommend the most feasible period during pregnancy to identify it. Secondary aim
was to propose a predictive algorithm for PCI visualization.
Methods: We performed a single-center, prospective cohort study. We enrolled patients with singleton low-risk
pregnancies who underwent fetal ultrasound scan at different gestational ages. We excluded patients with body
mass index of 30 Kg/m2 or more, uterine fibroids larger than 5 cm, high-risk pregnancies, fetal weight lower than
10° percentile or higher than 90° percentile, increased (“deep pocket” > 80 mm) or decreased (“deep pocket”
< 20 mm) amniotic fluid.
Results: Among the 468 recruited patients, the visualization of PCI was not possible in 5.77% of the cases.
Furthermore, we showed that PCI visualization was lower as the gestational age increased (p = 0.049) and more
difficult in case of posterior placenta (p = 0.001).
Conclusions: PCI should be evaluated in the first trimester or as early as possible during the second trimester.
Moreover, we propose a feasible model to predict the possibility of PCI visualization according to gestational age
and uterine site of implantation.
