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• Placental volume and transverse relaxation time (T2*) are predictors of small for gestational age (SGA). • In the multi-variate model, placental T2* was the only independent predictor of SGA. • Placental magnetic resonance imaging may improve the antenatal detection of SGA. Placental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be a valuable tool in the prediction of small for gestational age (SGA) at birth. MRI provides reliable estimates of placental volume and thickness. In addition, placental transverse relaxation time (T2*) may be directly related to placental function. This study aimed to explore and compare the predictive performance of three placental MRI parameters – volume, thickness and T2* – in relation to SGA at birth. A mixed cohort of 85 pregnancies was retrieved from the placental MRI database at the study hospital. MRI was performed in a 1.5 T system at gestational weeks 15–41. In normal birthweight (BW) pregnancies [BW > –22 % of expected for gestational age (GA)], the correlation between each of the MRI parameters and GA was investigated by linear regression. The prediction of SGA was investigated by logistic regression analysis adjusted for GA at MRI. In normal BW pregnancies, a significant linear correlation was found between GA and each of the MRI parameters. Univariate analysis demonstrated that placental volume [odds ratio (OR) 0.97, p = 0.001] and placental T2* (OR 0.79, p = 0.003), but not placental thickness (OR 0.92, p = 0.862) were significant predictors of SGA. A multi-variate model including all three MRI parameters found that placental T2* was the only independent predictor of SGA (OR 0.81, p = 0.04). Among the MRI parameters investigated in this study, placental T2* was the only independent predictor of SGA in a multi-variate model. This finding underlines the strong position of T2*-weighted placental MRI in the prediction of SGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]