This list covers obstetric imaging thesis topics across first-trimester screening, fetal biometry and growth, placental disease, Doppler, congenital anomalies, fetal neurosonography, fetal echocardiography, cervical assessment and high-risk pregnancy imaging for MD Radiodiagnosis candidates. The emphasis is on fetal ultrasound research topics that can be completed within one thesis period using antenatal patients, routine ultrasonography, Doppler studies and follow-up already available in a teaching hospital, rather than investigations added only for research. Each shortlisted idea can then be developed into a radiodiagnosis protocol or radiology synopsis with a fixed objective, scan protocol, reference standard and statistical plan.
Last reviewed and updated: September 2026 · 2026–27 admissions
First-trimester screening
- An observational cross-sectional study of first-trimester nuchal translucency thickness and its association with maternal age and pregnancy characteristics in women undergoing routine antenatal ultrasonography.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of increased nuchal translucency thickness and its association with structural foetal abnormalities detected during first-trimester ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of nuchal translucency thickness in pregnancies with normal and abnormal first-trimester ultrasound findings.
- An observational cross-sectional study of the prevalence and spectrum of abnormal first-trimester ultrasound findings among pregnant women attending a tertiary care hospital.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal age, parity, and conception characteristics associated with increased nuchal translucency thickness during first-trimester screening.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of first-trimester nasal bone assessment for identification of pregnancies with abnormal combined screening results.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal nasal bone visualization during first-trimester ultrasonography and factors affecting successful assessment.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasonography for visualization of selected foetal anatomical structures during first-trimester screening.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of foetal crown-rump length and its relationship with nuchal translucency thickness in singleton pregnancies.
- An observational cross-sectional study of ductus venosus waveform patterns during routine first-trimester foetal assessment.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of abnormal ductus venosus flow and its association with increased nuchal translucency and early foetal structural abnormalities.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of first-trimester ultrasound markers in pregnancies conceived spontaneously and pregnancies conceived by assisted reproductive techniques.
- An observational cross-sectional study of tricuspid regurgitation detected during first-trimester ultrasonography and associated foetal ultrasound findings.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal body mass index and adequacy of first-trimester foetal anatomical visualization by ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of first-trimester foetal anatomical visualization in women with normal and increased maternal body mass index.
- An observational cross-sectional study of the prevalence and ultrasonographic characteristics of subchorionic hematoma detected during first-trimester screening.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of subchorionic hematoma size and location in relation to maternal clinical characteristics at first-trimester ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of first-trimester ultrasound findings in women with and without vaginal bleeding at presentation.
- An observational cross-sectional study of early foetal structural abnormalities detected during routine first-trimester ultrasound screening at a tertiary care centre.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal anomaly detection using basic first-trimester ultrasound assessment and an extended first-trimester anatomical survey.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal and ultrasound factors associated with incomplete first-trimester screening examination in routine antenatal practice.
Foetal biometry
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal biometric parameters across gestational ages in singleton pregnancies undergoing routine second- and third-trimester ultrasonography.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of the relationship between biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length in normally growing singleton foetuses.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of ultrasonographic gestational age estimation using head circumference and femur length in second- and third-trimester pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of gestational age estimation using biparietal diameter and head circumference in singleton pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal height, weight, and body mass index in relation to foetal biometric measurements at ultrasonography.
- An observational cross-sectional study of variation in foetal abdominal circumference among uncomplicated singleton pregnancies at different gestational ages.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal biometric measurements in primigravida and multigravida women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of foetal transverse cerebellar diameter and its relationship with ultrasonographically estimated gestational age.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of transverse cerebellar diameter for estimation of gestational age using established first-trimester dating as the reference.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of transverse cerebellar diameter and femur length for estimation of gestational age in late pregnancy.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal foot length as an ultrasonographic biometric parameter across the second and third trimesters.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of foetal foot length and its correlation with conventional foetal biometric parameters.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal kidney length and conventional biometric parameters for estimation of gestational age in the third trimester.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal renal length across gestational ages in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of foetal humerus length and its relationship with femur length and gestational age.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal biometric measurements between male and female foetuses in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies.
- An observational cross-sectional study of discordance among conventional foetal biometric parameters during routine third-trimester ultrasonography.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of head circumference to abdominal circumference ratio and its variation with gestational age.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of estimated foetal weight calculated using different commonly used ultrasonographic biometric formulae.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal diabetes status and foetal abdominal circumference at the time of third-trimester ultrasonography.
- An observational cross-sectional study of technical and maternal factors associated with difficulty in obtaining standard foetal biometric planes during routine obstetric ultrasonography.
Foetal growth restriction
- An observational cross-sectional study of the ultrasonographic and Doppler characteristics of foetuses diagnosed with foetal growth restriction at a tertiary care hospital.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal clinical characteristics associated with foetal growth restriction detected on third-trimester ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal biometric parameters in growth-restricted and appropriately grown foetuses at similar gestational ages.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of abdominal circumference percentile and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler findings in foetuses with suspected growth restriction.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of umbilical artery Doppler findings in early-onset and late-onset foetal growth restriction.
- An observational cross-sectional study of middle cerebral artery Doppler abnormalities among foetuses with ultrasonographically diagnosed growth restriction.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of cerebroplacental ratio and severity of foetal growth restriction based on estimated foetal weight percentile.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of cerebroplacental ratio in growth-restricted and appropriately grown foetuses.
- An observational cross-sectional study of uterine artery Doppler abnormalities among pregnancies complicated by foetal growth restriction.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of bilateral uterine artery resistance and abnormal foetal growth parameters in high-risk pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of uterine artery Doppler findings in pregnancies with and without foetal growth restriction.
- An observational cross-sectional study of amniotic fluid abnormalities in foetuses diagnosed with foetal growth restriction.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of amniotic fluid index and Doppler abnormalities in foetuses with growth restriction.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of Doppler findings in isolated small-for-gestational-age foetuses and foetuses with features of placental foetal growth restriction.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of placental thickness and sonographic placental appearance in relation to foetal growth restriction.
- An observational cross-sectional study of placental calcification patterns among pregnancies with foetal growth restriction.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of placental thickness in pregnancies with foetal growth restriction and appropriately grown foetuses.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal hypertensive disorders and severity of Doppler abnormalities among foetuses with growth restriction.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal Doppler abnormalities in growth-restricted pregnancies with and without maternal hypertension.
- An observational cross-sectional study of venous Doppler abnormalities in severe early-onset foetal growth restriction at the time of tertiary referral.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of combined foetal biometry and Doppler parameters associated with severe foetal growth restriction in singleton pregnancies.
Placental disorders
- An observational cross-sectional study of the ultrasonographic spectrum of placental abnormalities detected during second- and third-trimester obstetric imaging.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of placental location and maternal factors associated with placenta previa in women undergoing antenatal ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasonography for assessment of the relationship between the placental edge and internal cervical opening in low-lying placenta.
- An observational cross-sectional study of sonographic features of placenta accreta spectrum disorders among women with placenta previa and previous caesarean delivery.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of number of previous caesarean deliveries and ultrasound markers suggestive of placenta accreta spectrum disorder.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of ultrasound findings in anterior placenta previa with and without features suggestive of abnormal placental adherence.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of selected grayscale ultrasound markers for identification of placenta accreta spectrum disorder using operative findings as the reference standard.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of color Doppler ultrasound markers for identification of placenta accreta spectrum disorder using operative findings as the reference standard.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of grayscale and color Doppler ultrasonography for prenatal assessment of suspected placenta accreta spectrum disorder.
- An observational cross-sectional study of placental lacunae and associated ultrasound features in women at risk for placenta accreta spectrum disorder.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of placental thickness and maternal diabetes in third-trimester pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of placental thickness in pregnancies with and without maternal hypertensive disorders.
- An observational cross-sectional study of placental calcification grades in third-trimester pregnancies attending a tertiary care hospital.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of premature placental calcification and maternal clinical risk factors.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of placental sonographic appearance in pregnancies with foetal growth restriction and pregnancies with normal foetal growth.
- An observational cross-sectional study of ultrasound findings in suspected placental abruption at the time of presentation.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of ultrasonographic findings for detection of clinically suspected placental abruption using delivery findings as the reference.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of placental location and foetal presentation in third-trimester singleton pregnancies.
- An observational cross-sectional study of placental masses, cysts, and lakes detected during routine antenatal ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of placental thickness and estimated foetal weight in pregnancies with normal and abnormal foetal growth.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal, obstetric, and sonographic characteristics associated with abnormal placental morphology during antenatal ultrasonography.
Obstetric Doppler
- An observational cross-sectional study of uterine artery Doppler indices in normal and high-risk singleton pregnancies during the second trimester.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of uterine artery Doppler parameters in normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of uterine artery pulsatility index and foetal growth parameters in high-risk pregnancies.
- An observational cross-sectional study of umbilical artery Doppler indices across different gestational ages in singleton pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of umbilical artery Doppler parameters in appropriately grown and growth-restricted foetuses.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of umbilical artery resistance and estimated foetal weight percentile in suspected foetal growth restriction.
- An observational cross-sectional study of middle cerebral artery Doppler parameters in third-trimester singleton pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of middle cerebral artery Doppler findings in normal and growth-restricted foetuses.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of middle cerebral artery pulsatility index and severity of foetal growth restriction.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of cerebroplacental ratio in low-risk and high-risk third-trimester pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of cerebroplacental ratio and foetal biometric asymmetry in suspected placental insufficiency.
- An observational cross-sectional study of ductus venosus Doppler patterns in foetuses with severe growth restriction referred to a tertiary care centre.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of ductus venosus abnormalities and concurrent umbilical and middle cerebral artery Doppler findings in severe foetal growth restriction.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of umbilical artery and cerebroplacental ratio abnormalities in late-onset foetal growth restriction.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal Doppler abnormalities in pregnancies complicated by maternal hypertension.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal Doppler indices in pregnancies with gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal blood pressure severity and abnormalities in uterine and foetal Doppler parameters.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of cerebroplacental ratio for identification of foetuses with abnormal composite Doppler findings in suspected growth restriction.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of Doppler parameters in pregnancies complicated by maternal diabetes and uncomplicated pregnancies.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal Doppler findings in post-dated pregnancies undergoing antenatal surveillance.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal and foetal factors associated with abnormal obstetric Doppler findings in a tertiary care antenatal population.
Congenital anomalies
- An observational cross-sectional study of the spectrum of congenital foetal anomalies detected by prenatal ultrasonography at a tertiary care referral centre.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal demographic and clinical factors associated with congenital foetal anomalies detected on antenatal ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of congenital anomaly patterns detected in pregnancies referred before and after 24 weeks of gestation.
- An observational cross-sectional study of central nervous system anomalies detected during second-trimester foetal anomaly screening.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of ventriculomegaly and associated intracranial and extracranial foetal abnormalities detected by ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of isolated and non-isolated foetal ventriculomegaly based on prenatal ultrasound findings.
- An observational cross-sectional study of congenital renal and urinary tract abnormalities detected during routine foetal anomaly screening.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of unilateral and bilateral foetal renal abnormalities with respect to associated sonographic findings.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of amniotic fluid abnormalities and congenital renal tract anomalies detected prenatally.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal gastrointestinal tract anomalies diagnosed during second- and third-trimester ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of ultrasound findings in foetuses with isolated and multiple gastrointestinal congenital anomalies.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal skeletal anomalies and skeletal dysplasias suspected on antenatal ultrasonography.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of shortened foetal long bones and associated structural abnormalities on detailed foetal ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of isolated short femur and short femur associated with additional foetal abnormalities.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal facial anomalies detected during detailed second-trimester ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography for characterization of foetal cleft lip and facial anomalies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of single umbilical artery and associated congenital foetal abnormalities.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal abdominal wall defects detected on prenatal ultrasonography and their associated anomalies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of associated sonographic abnormalities in foetuses with omphalocele and gastroschisis.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of multiple congenital anomalies and maternal risk factors among foetuses referred for targeted anomaly scanning.
- An observational cross-sectional study of the pattern of missed or newly identified foetal anomalies among women referred for tertiary-level targeted ultrasonography after a prior screening examination.
Foetal neurosonography
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal brain anatomy and biometric measurements obtained during dedicated neurosonography in second- and third-trimester pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of foetal lateral ventricular width and gestational age in structurally normal foetuses.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of transabdominal and transvaginal neurosonography for visualization of selected foetal intracranial structures in cephalic presentation.
- An observational cross-sectional study of the spectrum of foetal central nervous system abnormalities identified by dedicated neurosonography at a tertiary referral centre.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of mild foetal ventriculomegaly and associated intracranial abnormalities detected during neurosonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of isolated and non-isolated mild foetal ventriculomegaly based on detailed neurosonographic findings.
- An observational cross-sectional study of corpus callosum abnormalities suspected on foetal neurosonography and associated cerebral findings.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of standard axial foetal brain assessment and multiplanar neurosonography for visualization of the corpus callosum.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of cavum septi pellucidi abnormalities and associated foetal central nervous system malformations.
- An observational cross-sectional study of posterior fossa abnormalities detected by dedicated foetal neurosonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of transcerebellar and midsagittal neurosonographic views for assessment of foetal posterior fossa structures.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of transcerebellar diameter, cisterna magna width, and gestational age in structurally normal foetuses.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal cortical development and sulcation patterns across gestational ages using prenatal ultrasonography.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of abnormal cortical appearance and associated central nervous system anomalies on foetal neurosonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography for assessment of selected foetal brain structures.
- An observational cross-sectional study of intracranial cystic lesions detected during foetal neurosonography and their associated ultrasound findings.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of foetal head circumference abnormalities and associated intracranial structural findings.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of neurosonographic findings in foetuses with small and normal head circumference for gestational age.
- An observational cross-sectional study of spinal dysraphism and associated intracranial markers detected during foetal neurosonography.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of intracranial ultrasound markers for identification of open foetal spinal dysraphism using detailed spinal imaging as the reference.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal and foetal factors associated with incomplete visualization during dedicated foetal neurosonography.
Foetal echocardiography
- An observational cross-sectional study of the spectrum of congenital foetal cardiac abnormalities detected by foetal echocardiography at a tertiary care referral centre.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal risk factors associated with abnormal foetal echocardiography findings.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal cardiac abnormalities in pregnancies referred for maternal indications and pregnancies referred for foetal indications.
- An observational cross-sectional study of four-chamber view abnormalities detected during foetal echocardiography and associated cardiac malformations.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of the four-chamber view for identification of major foetal cardiac abnormalities using comprehensive foetal echocardiography as the reference.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of four-chamber and outflow tract views for detection of major congenital foetal cardiac abnormalities.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal cardiac axis measurements in structurally normal foetuses across gestational ages.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of abnormal foetal cardiac axis and associated congenital cardiac and extracardiac abnormalities.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal cardiac axis in foetuses with normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal cardiac chamber dimensions across gestational ages in structurally normal singleton foetuses.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of cardiothoracic ratio and associated foetal cardiac abnormalities detected by ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal cardiac dimensions in pregnancies with and without maternal diabetes.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal myocardial thickness in pregnancies complicated by maternal diabetes.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal glycaemic status and foetal interventricular septal thickness at the time of foetal echocardiography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal cardiac findings in pregestational diabetes and gestational diabetes.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal arrhythmias identified during foetal echocardiographic examination.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of foetal rhythm abnormalities and associated structural cardiac findings.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal cardiac findings in foetuses with increased and normal nuchal translucency.
- An observational cross-sectional study of extracardiac anomalies among foetuses diagnosed with congenital heart disease on foetal echocardiography.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of abnormal obstetric screening findings associated with major congenital heart disease on foetal echocardiography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of visualization of foetal cardiac structures using conventional two-dimensional imaging and color Doppler foetal echocardiography.
Cervical assessment
- An observational cross-sectional study of transvaginal cervical length measurements in asymptomatic pregnant women during the second trimester.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of cervical length and maternal obstetric characteristics in singleton pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical length measurements in pregnant women.
- A diagnostic accuracy cross-sectional study of transabdominal cervical length assessment for identification of a short cervix using transvaginal ultrasonography as the reference standard.
- An observational cross-sectional study of the prevalence of short cervix among high-risk pregnant women undergoing second-trimester ultrasonography.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of previous spontaneous preterm birth and cervical length at second-trimester assessment.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of cervical length in women with and without a previous spontaneous preterm birth.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of parity and cervical length in asymptomatic second-trimester pregnant women.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of cervical length in primigravida and multigravida women during the second trimester.
- An observational cross-sectional study of cervical funneling patterns among women undergoing transvaginal cervical assessment.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of cervical funneling and short cervical length in high-risk singleton pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of cervical length measurements in women with and without cervical funneling.
- An observational cross-sectional study of cervical length in twin pregnancies undergoing routine antenatal ultrasonography.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of transvaginal cervical length in singleton and twin pregnancies at similar gestational ages.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of uterine anomalies and cervical length in pregnant women undergoing targeted ultrasonography.
- An observational cross-sectional study of cervical sludge detected during transvaginal ultrasonography and associated cervical findings.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of cervical sludge, cervical funneling, and cervical length in high-risk pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of cervical length in women with and without placenta previa.
- An observational cross-sectional study of cervical length in symptomatic pregnant women presenting with threatened preterm labour.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of cervical length in symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women at comparable gestational ages.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal demographic, obstetric, and ultrasound factors associated with a short cervix during mid-trimester assessment.
High-risk pregnancy imaging
- An observational cross-sectional study of ultrasonographic and Doppler abnormalities among high-risk pregnancies referred to a tertiary care imaging department.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal risk factors associated with abnormal foetal biometry and Doppler findings in high-risk pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal growth and Doppler findings in high-risk and low-risk singleton pregnancies.
- An observational cross-sectional study of obstetric ultrasound findings in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of severity of maternal hypertension and foetal biometry, amniotic fluid, and Doppler abnormalities.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal ultrasound and Doppler findings in gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal biometry and amniotic fluid findings in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal growth patterns in pregnancies with gestational diabetes and uncomplicated pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal glycaemic control category and foetal abdominal circumference and estimated foetal weight at third-trimester ultrasonography.
- An observational cross-sectional study of obstetric ultrasound abnormalities in pregnancies complicated by maternal thyroid disease.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal growth parameters in pregnant women with treated thyroid dysfunction and euthyroid pregnant women.
- An observational cross-sectional study of ultrasound and Doppler findings in pregnancies affected by maternal anaemia.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal haemoglobin level and foetal growth and Doppler parameters in third-trimester pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal biometry and Doppler findings in women with moderate-to-severe anaemia and women without anaemia.
- An observational cross-sectional study of foetal growth, amniotic fluid, placental, and Doppler findings in post-dated pregnancies.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal Doppler and amniotic fluid findings in term and post-dated pregnancies.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal obesity and adequacy of foetal anatomical visualization during second-trimester anomaly screening.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal anatomical visualization and image quality in pregnant women with normal and increased body mass index.
- An observational cross-sectional study of ultrasonographic abnormalities among multiple pregnancies referred for high-risk antenatal imaging.
- A comparative cross-sectional study of foetal growth discordance and Doppler findings in dichorionic and monochorionic twin pregnancies at a single ultrasound assessment.
- An analytical cross-sectional study of maternal clinical risk factors, foetal biometry, amniotic fluid, placental findings, and Doppler abnormalities among high-risk pregnancies attending an Indian tertiary care teaching hospital.
Not the radiology subspeciality you need? Obstetric imaging is one section of our full radiology collection — the hub page lists every subspeciality, each with its own free topic list. Updated September 2026.
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📌 Updated for 2026–2027 MD Radiodiagnosis Obstetric Imaging admissions
The content has been reviewed for current fetal imaging workflows, gestational-age anchoring, reproducible measurements, clinically defensible reference standards and realistic access to outcome follow-up.
- Most projects are feasible with routine obstetric ultrasonography, transvaginal ultrasonography where indicated, colour and spectral Doppler, and existing fetal echocardiography or neurosonography expertise.
- Most do not require fetal magnetic resonance imaging, genetic testing, invasive prenatal procedures, research-only scans or additional maternal blood sampling unless these are already part of standard care.
- Strong publication potential lies in reproducible measurement studies, properly designed diagnostic-accuracy work, serial fetal-growth and Doppler research, placenta accreta spectrum imaging, and structured anomaly-detection pathways.
Generate a protocol from any topic above
Select Generate Protocol → beside any title in the list above and receive a submission-ready document built around that topic, containing all eighteen components:
- Introduction / Synopsis
- Research Question
- Aim of the Study
- Primary Objective
- Secondary Objectives
- Materials and Methods
- Inclusion Criteria
- Exclusion Criteria
- Sample Size Calculation
- Methodology
- Statistical Analysis
- Ethical Considerations
- Review of Literature
- References
- Gantt Chart / Study Timeline
- Patient Information Sheet
- Consent Form
- Data Collection Form
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Generate the full obstetric imaging protocol directly — objectives, methodology, sample size, statistics, timeline, references and annexures.
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Alongside obstetric imaging protocols and synopses, support is also available for departmental presentations, journal club presentations, ethics committee presentations, and posters and oral presentations for medical conferences — for postgraduate residents, board trainees and research scholars across India and the GCC. Prepared by a practising doctor with long experience in medical publishing and thesis supervision.
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Obstetric imaging research outside India
The topics above work as research questions anywhere — what changes is the document the institution expects, and who approves it before data collection begins. The Gulf equivalent of an Indian synopsis is the obstetric imaging research proposal submitted to an institutional review board, and it ordinarily carries three sections an Indian synopsis does not: a Gantt chart, a budget and resources section, and a Declaration of Helsinki statement.
Board and residency programmes — country by country
Saudi Arabia — SCFHS and the Saudi Board. Residency and fellowship training under the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties includes a research project with a set timeline, and the obstetric imaging research proposal is the document prepared at the outset and cleared by the institutional review board before recruitment starts.
United Arab Emirates — DHA, DOH Abu Dhabi and MOHAP. Residents training in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates prepare an obstetric imaging research protocol for their programme and submit it for institutional review board approval before any data are collected.
Qatar — DHP (formerly QCHP) and Hamad Medical Corporation. A obstetric imaging IRB proposal is reviewed before recruitment, with the ethics section written to the institution's own template rather than a generic one.
Bahrain — NHRA. Trainees turning obstetric imaging research topics into a project need the proposal cleared by their institutional research and ethics committee before fieldwork begins.
Oman — OMSB. Residency programmes under the Oman Medical Specialty Board include a research component, and the obstetric imaging research proposal is the document assessed at the start of it.
Kuwait — KIMS. A obstetric imaging study protocol goes to the institutional committee for approval before the project begins.
Arab Board programmes across the region. The Arab Board carries its own research requirement irrespective of the host country, and the obstetric imaging proposal follows the same structure throughout.
Postgraduate degrees — Malaysia, the Gulf and beyond
Malaysia — MMed, the National Medical Research Register and MREC. A obstetric imaging dissertation proposal for a Master of Medicine programme carried out in a Ministry of Health facility must be registered on the NMRR and approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee before the study begins, and the guidance asks for submission four to six months ahead of data collection. Every investigator on the study team registers on the NMRR as well, so the methodology, ethics and team sections are written in far more detail than an Indian synopsis requires.
PhD and Master's candidates elsewhere. University programmes generally require a full obstetric imaging research proposal of roughly 6,000 to 10,000 words, with an extended literature review, a theoretical framework and a detailed methodology chapter.
PhD and MMed proposals are written individually by a medical doctor and revised until the supervisor accepts them. They are not produced by the automated protocol generator.
Enquire about an obstetric imaging PhD or MMed proposal →
🔥 Trending research areas in Obstetric Imaging for 2026–27
Current work is moving from descriptive ultrasound series towards standardised measurements, longitudinal risk assessment and externally testable imaging models.
- AI-assisted fetal biometry and standard-plane quality assessment: automated measurements and anomaly-screening support are expanding, but local validation against expert acquisition and reporting remains a practical research need.
- Placenta accreta spectrum risk stratification: combinations of grayscale signs, colour Doppler, clinical risk factors and selected magnetic resonance imaging features are being studied because single ultrasound signs have variable performance.
- Integrated fetal growth restriction phenotyping: serial growth, umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery, cerebroplacental ratio, ductus venosus and maternal factors are increasingly analysed together rather than treating one Doppler index as a stand-alone predictor.
- Earlier structural and placental assessment: the 11–14-week scan is increasingly used for more than dating and nuchal translucency, creating feasible projects on early anatomy, placentation, image completeness and referral pathways.
Protocol and synopsis guidance
What an Obstetric Imaging protocol must contain
Fix the unit of analysis first. State whether the unit is the pregnancy, fetus, examination or image. In twins, two fetuses from one mother are clustered observations and should not automatically be analysed as two independent pregnancies. If serial scans are included, measurements from the same fetus are repeated observations rather than new subjects.
Anchor gestational age independently. Define the dating source before analysing biometry or Doppler. A reliable first-trimester crown-rump length or an appropriate assisted-conception date is preferable when available. A later biometric parameter should not be used to generate gestational age and then be tested for its relationship with that same gestational age, because that makes the analysis circular.
Standardise acquisition. Name the ultrasound system, probes, maternal and fetal preparation where relevant, imaging plane, caliper placement, number of measurements, Doppler sampling site, gate, insonation approach, waveform acceptance criteria and reference chart. For nuchal translucency, fetal cardiac views, neurosonography, cervical length and placenta accreta markers, operator training and image-quality criteria should be explicit.
Define the reference standard and follow-up. Diagnostic studies must state what confirms or excludes the target condition in both imaging-positive and imaging-negative participants. Depending on the question this may be delivery findings, neonatal examination, postnatal imaging, operative findings, histopathology, genetic testing or structured clinical follow-up. Restricting confirmation to abnormal scans creates partial-verification bias.
Predefine outcomes. Growth restriction, small-for-gestational-age status, abnormal Doppler, short cervix, congenital anomaly, placenta accreta spectrum and adverse perinatal outcome require operational definitions before recruitment. The protocol should also state who reads the images, whether readers are blinded to the reference result, how discordant readings are handled and whether interobserver or intraobserver reproducibility will be measured.
Obstetric Imaging synopsis versus Obstetric Imaging protocol
The synopsis is the concise academic plan. It usually contains the rationale, research question, objectives, broad design, study population, main imaging variables, sample-size basis, analysis plan and ethical considerations in the format required by the university or institution.
The protocol is the operational document. In obstetric imaging it must go further and lock the dating method, gestational-age window, singleton or multiple-pregnancy eligibility, chorionicity where relevant, ultrasound and Doppler technique, measurement planes, reference charts, definition of an adequate study, handling of incomplete visualisation, reader blinding, follow-up interval and reference standard.
A one-page description such as "correlate Doppler with fetal outcome" is therefore not enough. The protocol must define which Doppler vessel and index, when it is measured, whether the value is interpreted as a raw number or gestation-specific centile, which outcome is recorded, the interval between imaging and outcome, and how repeat scans from the same pregnancy are analysed.
Sample size and statistical analysis
Base the calculation on one primary objective. Prevalence studies need an expected prevalence and precision; comparison studies need an expected difference; correlation studies need an anticipated correlation coefficient; diagnostic studies need expected sensitivity or specificity with an adequate number of participants with and without the target condition; agreement studies need an agreement-based calculation rather than an accuracy formula.
Do not inflate the sample by counting dependent observations as independent. Two fetuses in a twin pregnancy, repeated Doppler waveforms, several images from one scan and serial scans from one fetus are correlated data. The analysis may require one prespecified measurement per pregnancy, clustering by mother, repeated-measures methods or mixed-effects modelling.
Respect gestational age. Fetal measurements and Doppler indices change across gestation, so raw values pooled across a broad gestational range can be misleading. Use a named gestation-specific chart, centile, Z-score or appropriate gestational-age adjustment when the research question requires it.
Match the statistic to the question. Pearson or Spearman methods address association, not agreement. Bland–Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients are appropriate for many continuous measurement-reproducibility questions, while kappa is used for categorical agreement. Diagnostic work should report sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and confidence intervals against a defined reference standard. A receiver-operating-characteristic threshold derived and tested in the same small single-centre dataset should be presented as a local exploratory threshold, not a universal cut-off.
Frequently Asked Questions – Obstetric Imaging Thesis Topics (2026–27)
1. How do I choose a feasible Obstetric Imaging thesis topic?
For 2026 MD Radiodiagnosis admissions, start with the examinations already performed in adequate numbers at the institution and the outcome data that can actually be retrieved. A study on routine biometry, Doppler, cervical length, placental assessment or anomaly imaging is usually more feasible than a project dependent on rare fetal disorders, universal genetic confirmation or fetal magnetic resonance imaging that only a small fraction of patients receive. Feasibility should be checked using expected monthly case volume, scan expertise, follow-up completeness and one clearly measurable primary objective.
2. Which study designs are accepted for an Obstetric Imaging thesis?
Cross-sectional observational and analytical studies, prospective or retrospective cohorts, diagnostic-accuracy studies, agreement and reproducibility studies, and selected comparative studies are all defensible when the design matches the question. A cross-sectional design is suitable for a single-time-point association or prevalence estimate, but it should not be used to claim prediction of a later neonatal outcome unless participants are followed forward and the timing is built into the design.
3. What should be settled with the guide before registering the topic?
Settle the primary objective, dating method, gestational-age window, inclusion of singleton or multiple pregnancies, chorionicity rules, ultrasound and Doppler protocol, named reference charts, minimum image-quality criteria, reader arrangement, reference standard, follow-up source and the exact unit of analysis. It should also be clear whether the department can retrieve delivery, operative, pathology, neonatal or postnatal imaging records when those are required to answer the objective.
4. How should gestational age be fixed for an Obstetric Imaging study?
Use the best independent dating information available and define it before data collection. A reliable first-trimester crown-rump length or a known assisted-conception date is preferable when available. If later pregnancy biometry is the exposure being studied, gestational age should not be recalculated from that same measurement and then used as the comparator. The protocol should also state how uncertain dates, redating and discordant clinical and ultrasound dates will be handled.
5. What is the difference between an Obstetric Imaging synopsis and protocol?
The synopsis is the shorter academic submission that explains why the study matters and summarises the objectives, methods, sample size, analysis and ethics. The protocol is the reproducible working plan. For obstetric imaging, the protocol should specify the scan window, acquisition technique, measurement method, Doppler settings and sampling site where relevant, reference charts, outcome definitions, follow-up, reader blinding, data-quality rules and the statistical handling of twins or serial examinations.
6. What ethical issues are specific to Obstetric Imaging research?
Research should state whether every scan, sequence and Doppler assessment is already part of standard care. No ionising radiation, contrast administration, additional ultrasound exposure or research-only venepuncture should be added without a specific scientific justification and ethics approval; if blood sampling is genuinely required, the protocol should state the volume and purpose. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging studies should state whether any sequence is added beyond clinical care and should not introduce contrast solely for research.
Prospective studies require informed consent from the pregnant participant. Where a pregnant participant is a minor, the applicable institutional pathway for guardian consent and the participant's assent should be followed; child assent is generally considered from about seven years where developmentally appropriate. Retrospective PACS or record-based studies may seek a waiver of consent when permitted by the ethics committee. Separate consent should cover identifiable photographs or video used beyond routine clinical documentation.
Anonymisation must extend beyond the visible report. DICOM headers can contain identifiers, and three-dimensional or reconstructed facial surfaces can potentially reveal identity, so exported datasets require controlled de-identification. The protocol should also name an escalation pathway for clinically important incidental or newly recognised findings such as a major fetal anomaly, severe growth restriction or Doppler deterioration, placenta accreta spectrum, a short cervix or a significant maternal abnormality: these should be reviewed by the responsible reporting radiologist and communicated through the obstetric or fetal-medicine team according to institutional policy.
7. Why is ultrasound-derived gestational age a problem when studying fetal biometry?
It becomes circular when the same biometric measurement is used both to calculate gestational age and then to demonstrate that the measurement correlates with gestational age. A strong correlation is then partly built into the method rather than discovered by the study. The better approach is to anchor gestation independently, preferably from reliable early dating, and then evaluate how the later biometric parameter behaves against that fixed gestational age. The same principle applies when proposing a new biometric marker for dating.
8. How does an Obstetric Imaging dissertation differ from research-proposal pathways outside the Indian MD?
An Indian MD dissertation is usually a supervised degree requirement with a university or institutional synopsis followed by a completed thesis. A PhD proposal generally demands a larger original research programme, a stronger theoretical or methodological rationale and work extending beyond a single residency-scale project. In Gulf training pathways, the document may instead be framed as a mandatory board or residency research project, including requirements linked to SCFHS and the Saudi Board, the Arab Board of Health Specializations, and DHP, DHA, DOH or MOHAP-linked training programmes. The scientific core can remain similar, but the required forms, approvals, supervisor structure, milestones and final output should be matched to the specific authority rather than copied from an Indian MD synopsis.
9. When should an Obstetric Imaging thesis topic be registered?
Registration should follow a short feasibility check rather than topic selection by title alone. Confirm adequate case volume, availability of the required gestational-age window, access to the ultrasound or Doppler technique, reliable dating information, the reference standard or follow-up records, and guide agreement on one primary objective. Registration is safest after the measurement definitions and data source are fixed but before prospective recruitment or research-specific data collection begins.
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