Placenta

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The placenta feeds the developing baby, breathes for it and disposes of its waste.

The organ is one that seems to be left behind; at least one review suggests it isn't done so well by general pathologists.[1]

Clinical

Examination of the placenta

  • Most placentas are not examined by a pathologist.

Indications for exam by pathology

Some indications for exam by a pathologist:

  • Abnormalities in the:
    1. Fetus:
      • Bad fetal outcome.
      • Suspected or known congenital abnormalities or chromosomal abnormalities.
      • IUGR.
    2. Mother:
      • Infection/suspected infection.
      • Pre-term labour.
      • Maternal disease (e.g. SLE, coagulopathy).
      • Complicated pregnancy (preclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes).
    3. Placenta:
      • Unusual gross characteristics.[2]

A more detailed list is given by Hargitai et al.[3] and Chang.[4]

Most common

Most common reasons for submitting a placenta to pathology:[5]

  1. Prematurity.
  2. PROM / possible chorioamnionitis.
  3. Multiple gestation.

Bleeding in late pregnancy

DDx of bleeding in late pregnancy:

Clinical screening tests

Main article: Pregnancy
  • PAPP-A - low values seen in aneuploidy.[6]

Abbreviations

  • C/S = Caesarean section.
  • LSCS = lower segment C-section.
  • FTP = failure to progress.
  • PROM = premature rupture of membranes.
  • PPROM = preterm premature ruptures of membranes.
  • IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction.
  • IOL = induction of labour.

Normal histology

Villi

Main article: Chorionic villi

This is dealt with in a separate article that also covers the types of trophoblast (cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast, intermediate trophoblast).

Cord

Omphalomesenteric duct remnant

  • AKA vitelline duct.
  • Benign embryologic remnant.

Features:

  • Duct with benign looking cuboidal epithelium.

Allantoic duct remnant

  • Benign embryologic remnant.

Features:

  • Duct with benign looking flat epithelium.

Vitelline artery remnant

Features:

  • Small artery in the cord.

Membranes

Fetus to mother:

  • Amnion - thin layer: one cell layer, basement membrane, connective tissue.
  • Cleft - artifactual - empty space.
  • Chorion - vascular.
  • Decidua (maternal tissue) - may contain obsolete chorionic villi; place to look for hypertensive changes.

Amnion

General:

  • Next to fetus, surrounds amniotic fluid, avascular.

Characteristics:

  • Characterized by a single layer of cells.[7]
    • Cuboidal/squamoid shape.
    • Eosinophilic cytoplasm.
    • Central nucleus.
  • Squamous metaplasia may be seen at cord insertion.
  • Basement membrane.
  • 'Compact layer'.[7]
  • 'Fibroblastic layer'.[7]

Chorion

General:

  • Surrounds amnion.

Characteristics:

  • Layers:[8]
    • 'Reticular layer' - cellular (inner aspect).
    • 'Pseudo-basemement membrane'.
    • 'Outer trophoblastic layer'.
  • Has blood vessels.
  • Opposed to "trophoblastic X cells" on side opposite of amnion.[7]
    • Beneath of the "trophoblastic X cells" is decidua (mnemonic NEW = nucleus central, eosinophilic, well-defined cell border), which is maternal tissue.

Note:

  • Fibrin deposition may be found deep to the chorion - known as subchorionic fibrin deposition.
    • Gross: subchorionic, white/yellow, laminated, classically has a triangular-shape with the base of triangle parallel to fetal aspect of disc.
      • Arises due to localized stasis of the inter-villous maternal blood.
    • Focal small deposits are considered to be a normal finding - seen in ~15% of cases.[9][10]

Image:

Common terms

  • Chorionic plate - fetal aspect of placenta.
  • Basal plate - maternal aspect of placenta.
    • Has extravillous trophoblast.
    • Place to look for maternal vessels.

Grossing

This is often very quick. The gross is quite important, as some things cannot be diagnosed microscopically.

General

  • Dimensions:
    • Disc.
    • Length of cord, diameter of cord.
    • Accessory lobes - dimensions.
      • Two lobes of equal size + cord arises in between = bilobate placenta.
  • Mass (weight).
    • Should be done 'trimmed' (cord cut-off, membrane cut-off).
    • Should be done when placenta is "fresh", i.e. not fixed -- as mass tables are based on fresh state.
  • Umbilical cord
    • Attachment.
      • Location: central, eccentric, marginal.
        • Marginal attachment assoc. with hypertension[11]
      • Membranous or velamentous (veil-like) insertion.
        • Vessels separate/branch prior to reaching placental disc.
      • Furcate insertion - blood vessels separate before reaching placenta disc/not surrounded by Wharton's jelly - vessels more exposed to trauma (risk for vasa previa).
    • Knots (false vs. true).
      • False knots are nothing to worry about -- look like a knot but aren't really one.
    • Twisting/coiling - 1-3 coils/10 cm is normal.
    • Number of vessels.
      • Normal: 2 arteries, 1 vein.
  • Membranes - shiny & translucent - normal (green, opaque/dull - chorioamnionitis).
    • Attachment (insertion): marginal (normal), circummarginate (inside edge), circumvallate (folding on self).
    • Site of rupture - if obvious; low point of rupture suggests low-lying placenta.
  • Placental disc.
    • Fetal surface - normal is shinny.
      • Dull in chorioamnionitis.
    • Maternal surface
      • Are the cotyledons intact?
      • Adherent clot?
    • Parenchyma - after sectioning:
      • White vs. red nodules.

Notes:

Sections

  1. Cord two sections.
  2. Membranes (rolled), two rolls or more.[12]
  3. Cord at insertion + disc.
  4. Placenta - full thickness (maternal and fetal surface).
    • Sections should not be taken at the margin of the disc.

Placental membranes

Appearance:[13]

Placental mass

It is considered routine to obtain a mass for the placenta. This is usually done when the placenta is fresh and with the membranes and cord trimmed, as most tables of placental mass were created with these parameters.

Placental mass by gestational age:[15]

Gest. Age/Percentile 25% 50% 75%
32 weeks 275 g 318 g 377 g
36 weeks 369 g 440 g 508 g
40 weeks 440 g 501 g 572 g

Linear regression - placental mass-gestational age

Based on the table in the AFIP book[16] I generated the following regression lines:

50% 10% 90%
slope (g/week) 21.58088235 19.70588235 25.40196078
y-intercept (g) -357.4558824 -397.2352941 -366.7254902
Pearson (r) 0.988670724 0.988268672 0.982206408

placental mass = slope x gestational age + intercept

What to remember...

Extrapolated from the linear regression (see above):

  • 50% at term = 500 grams.
  • 50% at 26 weeks = 200 grams.
  • The change in mass/week is approximately linear and equal to 300 grams / 14 weeks ~ 20 grams/week.
  • The spread in mass between 10% and 90%, crudely estimated, is 200 grams (for GA=26-40).

Notes:

  • Is it required?
    • Sebire and Fox have advocated abandoning the practise of obtaining a placental mass, due to the large number of uncontrolled variables inherent in these measures. Instead, they have advocated using mushy descriptors such as "small", "average" and "large", which require experience in examining the organ.[17]
      • In the context of quality, a measure (even if somewhat flawed), is almost certainly more reproducible than arbitrary descriptors which require experience and a continuing case volume to calibrate.

Placentomegaly

  • AKA large placenta.

Associations:[18]

Lame causes of a heavy placenta:

  • Dates wrong - error in determining the estimated date of confinement.
  • Adherent blood clot.

Comment:

  • Most of causes seem to have one thing in common:
    • There is a decreased oxygen delivery to the fetus.

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, CESAERIAN SECTION:
- LARGE PLACENTA (819 GRAMS -- TRIMMED, POST-FIXATION WEIGHT).
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI.

Placental growth restriction

  • AKA placenta small for gestational age.
  • Small placenta redirects here.

Associations:

  • Maternal vascular disease, e.g. hypertension.
  • Fetal malformations.

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, BIRTH:
- PLACENTA SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE (160 GRAMS -- TRIMMED, POST-FIXATION WEIGHT).
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI WITH:
-- OLD CENTRAL TRANSMURAL INFARCT (1.7 CM MAXIMAL DIMENSION).

COMMENT:
The 10th percentile placental mass (pre-fixation) for 34 weeks and 2 days is approximately 390 grams.

Overview of placental pathology

Approach

The pathology of the placenta is diverse and is not easy to group.

It terms of remembering things. It is probably easiest to take a combined anatomical, etiologic and morphologic approach.

Anatomical basis:

  • Cord.
  • Membranes.
  • Disc.

Etiologic:

  • Congential.
  • Infectious.
  • Neoplastic.
  • Endocrine.
  • Trauma.
  • Vascular.
  • Degenerative.
  • Autoimmune.
  • Toxic.
  • Idiopathic.

Compartmental:

  • Vasculature.
  • Membranes.
  • Parenchyma:
    • Maternal part (decidua).
    • Fetal part (villi, cord).

Common entities/diagnoses

Sign out

What should be commented on...

  • Placenta:
    • Maturity of villi (2nd or 3rd trimester).
    • Infarction?
      • Subchorionic less important than maternal aspect.
      • Peripheral aspect of placental disc less important than central region of disc.
    • Blood vessels.
      • Maternal.
      • Fetal.
  • Membranes.
  • Cord:
    • 3 vessel?
    • Vasculitis/inflammation?

Mnemonic: chorio, cord, vessels, villi (maturity, infarction).

Normal placenta

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, BIRTH:
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.

C-section

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, CAESAREAN SECTION:
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.

Cord pathology

Two vessel umbilical cord

  • AKA two vessel cord.
  • AKA single umbilical artery.

Associations

  • Associated with congenital abnormalities, esp. cardiac - key point.[21]
    • Thought to be an acquired defect (as prevalence is lower early in gestation).
  • May be seen in association of other cord abnormalities (e.g. marginal insertion, velamentous insertion).
  • In apparently well (liveborn) infants it is associated with (occult) renal abnormalities, specifically vesico-ureteric reflux; there is no evidence for other abnormalities.[22]
  • Associated with maternal diabetes.[23]

Image

  • Single umbilical artery. (WC/Patho)

www:

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, CAESAREAN SECTION:
- TWO VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD, NEGATIVE FOR INFLAMMATION.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI WITHOUT APPARENT PATHOLOGY.

With meconium

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, CAESAREAN SECTION:
- TWO VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD, NEGATIVE FOR INFLAMMATION.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITH FOCAL PIGMENTED CELLS CONSISTENT WITH MECONIUM,
  NEGATIVE FOR APPARENT CHORIOAMNIONITIS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI WITHOUT APPARENT PATHOLOGY.

Insertion

Marginal insertion

Definition:

  • The umbilical cord is attached to the placental disc at its margin.

Prevalence:

  • Approximately 12% of placentas.[21]

Relevance:

  • None according to WMSP.[21]
    • In theory, the cord, dependent on its relation to the internal os, is at greater risk of injury (leading to vasa previa) and compression (fetal hypoxia). A retrospective study found cord position in relation to the internal os is predictive for vasa previa.[25]

Velamentous insertion

Definition:

  • The umbilical cord inserts into the fetal membranes.[21]
    • The vessels are not protected by Wharton's jelly.
      • Wharton's jelly = the connective tissue surrounding the vessels in the cord.

Details:[21]

  • 3/4 of the time the vessel also branch; in the remaining 1/4 the vessels stay together.

Relevance:

  • Increased risk of vasa previa.[25]

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORDS AND FETAL MEMBRANES, BIRTH:
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITH A VELAMENTOUS INSERTION, OTHERWISE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.

Umbilical knot

  • AKA umbilical cord knot.
  • AKA cord knot.
  • AKA true knot.

General

Gross

Work-up:[27]

  • Diameter measures and colour on both sides of the knot.
  • Knot should be untied to assess for deformation of Wharton's jelly.
  • Sections from both sides of the knot - to look for thrombi.

Note:

  • False knots (large diameter - focally) are common - they cannot be untied.

Microscopic

Features:

  • +/-Thrombi.
    • Fibrin deposition.
  • +/-Lines of Zahn.

Images:

Coiling

  • Hypo- and hypercoiling are both considered problematic.[21]
    • Normal: 1-3 coils/10 cm.[28]
  • Associated with cord stricture, which is usu. at the fetal end of the cord.[29]

Notes:

  • There is little uniformity in how coiling is assessed in the medical literature - though 10% and 90% are considered the cut-points for normal.[30]
    • What are the 10% and 90% cut-points? They are not given in WMSP. UT access to a journal article[31] that might have it is screwed-up.

Cord hematoma

Features:[29]

  • Rare ~ 1/5500.
  • Mortality ~50% is severe.

Image: Hematoma (flylib.com).[32]

Membranes

Amnion nodosum

General

  • Associated with (long-standing) oligohydramnios.[33]
  • Should be separated from squamous metaplasia of amnion.

Gross

Features:[34]

  • Yellow nodules ~ 1-5 mm.
    • Some think they are white.[35]

DDx:

Images:

Microscopic

Features:[34]

  • Stratified squamous epithelium - non-keratinizing or minimal keratin.
  • Amorphous acidophilic (pink) debris.

Note:

  • Normal amnion = simple epithelium.

Images:

Placental meconium

Main article: Placental meconium

Squamous metaplasia of the amnion

General

  • Benign common finding thought to be of no clinical significance.[36]
  • Needs to be separated from amnion nodosum - important.[38]

Gross

Features:[34]

  • White (or yellow) plaques - irregular outline.

DDx:

Images:

Microscopic

Features:[34]

  • Dense, paucicellular (pink) compact keratin - key feature.

Image:

Circumvallate placenta

  • AKA circumvallate insertion of the membranes.

General

Note:

  • Membranes usually attach to the edge of the placenta.

Gross

  • Fetal membranes attach to the fetal surface of the placenta away from the margin of the placental disc.

Classification:

  • Partial - not circumferential.
  • Complete.

DDx:

Images:

Twin placentas

Main article: Twin placentas

These are often submitted... even if they are normal. In these specimens, usually, the chorion is the key.

It covers:

  • Monozygotic vs. dizygotic twins.
  • Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

Placental disc

Villous edema

General

  • Non-specific finding.
  • Reported in associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia for the stem villi.[41]

Microscopic

Features:

  • "Swiss chesse-like" appearance / bubbly appearance.
  • Usually patchy and focal.

Note:

  • Cistern formation is reported in the stem villi in association with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.[41]

DDx:

Image:

Placental villous immaturity

Main article: Placental villous immaturity

Villous hypoplasia

  • AKA terminal villus deficiency.[43]
Main article: Villous hypoplasia

Diseases of the placental attachment

Placenta creta

  • What?
    • Trophoblastic tissue deeper than it should be.
  • Clinical?
    • Postpartum hemorrhage leading to a hysterectomy.[44]
  • Pathogenesis?
    • It is suspected that it arises as there is defect in the endometrium/myometrium -- not deep trophoblastic invasion.[44]
    • Risk factors:[45]
      • Placenta previa.
      • Previous caesarian section.

Note:

  • Normal: trophoblastic tissue attaches to the decidua.[46]
  • Retained placentas have less multinucleated trophoblastic giant cells.[47]

Placenta accreta

  • Trophoblastic tissue (directly) adherent to the myometrium.[46]

Image:

Placenta increta

  • Trophoblastic tissue extends into the myometrium.

Placenta percreta

  • Trophoblastic tissue penetrates through the myometrium.

Placental abruption

General

Classic clinical manifestations:[49]

  • Vaginal bleeding (~70%).
  • Abdominal pain (~50%).
  • Fetal heart rate abnormalities (~70%).

Sign-out:

  • Pathologists should sign-out this as "focal adherent retroplacental hematoma".
    • The pathologic findings may be due to abruption or manual removal of the placenta.

Gross

Features:[50]

  • Large adherent blood clot.
  • Disc depression on maternal side.

Notes:

  • Loosely attached clot less convincing.
  • Central haemorrhage is the most worrisome.

Microscopic

Features:

  1. Decidual hemorrhage.
    • Blood in the decidua.
  2. Intravillous hemorrhage, AKA villous stromal hemorrhage.
    • "Bags of blood" - blood outside of vessels in the villi.
      • Should not be confused with congested villi.

Notes:

  • There are no definitive microscopic findings for placental abruption.
  • Intravillous hemorrhage is non-specific - may arise in the following: early placental infarct, cord compression, abdominal trauma.

Sign out

Usual nonspecific findings

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, BIRTH:
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI, TWO SMALL PLACENTAL INFARCTS
  (0.8 CM AND 0.5 CM IN MAXIMAL DIMENSION) AND FOCAL PROMINENCE OF SYNCYTIAL KNOTS.

COMMENT:
There is no decidual hemorrhage or intravillous hemorrhage. The prominent syncytial knots
are a nonspecific finding suggestive of (focal) ischemia.

Note:

  • The above is not diagnostic nor does it exclude the diagnosis of abruption.

Inflammatory pathologies

Overview of infections

General:[51]

Types

By site:[51]

  • Fetal membranes: chorioamnionitis, membranitis.[52]
  • Umbilical cord: funisitis.
  • Placenta: placentitis, villitis.

Membranitis

Chorionitis redirects here.

General

Microscopic

Features:

  • PMNs in the decidua.
  • +/-PMNs in subamniotic tissue.
  • +/-Necrosis in decidua or chorion/subamniotic tissue.

Note:

DDx:

Grading membranitis

Sternberg:[52]

  1. PMNs - decidua only.
  2. PMNs - in subamniotic tissue.
  3. 1 or 2 + necrosis in decidua or chorion/subamniotic tissue.

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, CESAERIAN SECTION:
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITH CHORIONITIS.
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITH VASCULITIS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI.

Chorioamnionitis

Main article: Chorioamnionitis

Umbilical cord vasculitis

Main article: Umbilical cord vasculitis

Funisitis

General

Microscopic

Features:

  • Neutrophils in the vessels of the umbilical cord and Wharton's jelly.

Note:

  • Wharton's jelly = connective tissue of the umbilical cord.

DDx:

Grading funisitis

Funisitis:[52]

  1. Focal inflammation.
  2. Diffuse inflammation.
  3. Necrosis - in umbilical vessels or Wharton jelly.

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, BIRTH:
- CHORIOAMNIONITIS.
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITH FUNISITIS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI.
- TWO THROMBI OF THE PLACENTAL DISC (LARGEST 0.9 CM - MAXIMAL DIMENSION).

Acute villitis

General

Microscopic

Features:

  • Neutrophils in the villous stroma - key feature.
  • +/-Features suggestive a particular infective etiology.
    • Cytoplasmic inclusion +/-owl's eye nucleus (CMV).

Images

  • CMV placentitis. (WC)

www:

Villitis of unknown etiology

Main article: Villitis of unknown etiology

Chronic intervillitis

General

  • Rare.
  • Massive chronic intervillitis - associated IUGR, spontaneous abortion, perinatal fetal death.[55]
  • Recurs.

Microscopic

Features:[54][55]

  • Intervillous inflammatory cells:
    • Lymphocytes.
    • Histiocytes.
  • Fibrinoid deposition.

Images

  • Intervillitis - intermed. mag. (WC)

  • Intervillitis - very high mag. (WC)

Chronic deciduitis

  • AKA plasma cell deciduitis.
Main article: Chronic deciduitis

Placental infarction

True infarcts

Main article: Placental infarct

Perivillous fibrin deposition

  • Abbreviation PFD.

General

  • Thought to be an immunologic problem - resulting in platelet activation and fibrin deposition.[56]
  • May be associated with diabetes mellitus.[57]

Gross

  • Pale (white).
  • Firm.
  • White fibrous sepatae.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Acellular eosinophilic material around formed villi.
  • Obliteration of intervillous space.
    • Intervillous distance increased vis-a-vis normal - key feature.

Notes:

  • Nuclei of villi are usually preserved.
  • Villi may have secondary infarction, i.e. there may be nuclear destruction (karyolysis, karyorrhexis, pyknosis).

DDx:

Images:

Sign out

Thrombi

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, BIRTH:
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI AND THREE LARGE INTERVILLOUS 
THROMBI (BLOCKS A7-A9).

Maternal floor infarction

  • Abbreviated MFI.
  • Formally placental maternal floor infarction.
  • AKA massive perivillous fibrin deposition.[58]

General

  • Not a true infact.
    • It is really fibrin deposition.[59]

Associations:

Gross

Features:[63]

  • +/-Thickened placenta.
  • Maternal aspect of placental disc irregular or lobulated appearance.
  • +/-Yellowish discolourization.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Extensive fibrin deposition around villi on maternal aspect - see: Perivillous fibrin deposition.
    • Described as having a "net-like" pattern.[63]
    • "Extensive" - either of the following:[61][64]
      1. Micro: one slide with >50% of villi involved.
        • Gross: full thickness involvement.
      2. Micro: maternal floor has at least 3 mm of fibrin on one slide.
        • Gross: maternal floor diffusely involved.

DDx:

Images:

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, BIRTH:
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- SMALL PLACENTAL DISC WITH MASSIVE PERIVILLOUS FIBRIN DEPOSITION, SEE COMMENT.

COMMENT:
Massive perivillous fibrin deposition (MPVFD) is associated with intrauterine 
growth restriction (IUGR). MPVFD is described in association with in 
anti-phospholipid antibody (APLA) syndrome, pregnancy-induced hypertension and 
congenital infections. Perivillous fibrin deposition may be seen in diabetes.

There is no apparent infection. Changes suggestive of decidual vasculopathy 
are not apparent. Changes suggestive of fetal thrombotic vasculopathy are 
not identified.

Fetal disease

Fetal thrombotic vasculopathy

  • Abbreviated FTV.
  • A large number of terms are used for this including:[65]
    • Fibrinous vasculosis.
    • Fibromuscular sclerosis.
    • Fetal artery stem thrombosis.
  • The multitude of terms reflects the confusion about this finding and that it has numerous etiologies.[65]
Main article: Fetal thrombotic vasculopathy

Hemorrhagic endovasculitis

  • Abbreviated HEV.

General

  • Associated with stillbirth.[66]

Microscopic

Features:[67]

  • Walls of the (fetal) placental blood vessels (in the villi) are disrupted.
  • +/-Intraluminal necrotic debris.
  • RBC fragmentation.

Maternal disease

Hypertensive changes

General

Associated pathologic changes:[68]

  • Placental infarcts.
  • Increased syncytial knots.
  • Hypovascularity of the villi.
  • Cytotrophoblastic proliferation.
  • Thickening of the trophoblastic basement membrane.

Microscopic

Features:[68]

  • Enlarged endothelial cells - fetal capillaries.
  • Atherosis of the spiral arteries - placental bed (maternal).

Notes:

  • One should look for the changes in the membrane roll, not the maternal surface.[69]

Images:

Hypertrophic decidual vasculopathy

Decidual vasculopathy redirects here.

General

Microscopic

Features:[60]

  • Mild or moderate:
    1. Perivascular inflammatory cells.
    2. +/-Vascular thrombosis.
    3. Smooth muscle hypertrophy.
    4. Endothelial hyperplasia.
      • Above two lead to narrowing of the decidual spiral arteries[70] -- key feature.
  • Severe:[60]
    1. Atherosis of maternal blood vessels.
      • Foamy macrophages within vascular wall.
    2. Fibrinoid necrosis of vessel wall (amorphous eosinophilic material vessel wall).
  • Suggestive:[71]
    • Decidual vasculitis - lymphocyte predominant without plasma cells.

Note:

  • Smooth muscle hypertrophy can also be understood as lack of physiological conversion of spiral arteries of the uterus.[72]

Images

  • HDV - intermed. mag. (WC)

  • HDV - low mag. (WC)

www:

Sign out

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, CESAREAN SECTION:
- DECIDUAL VASCULOPATHY.
- PLACENTA SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE (222 GRAMS).
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH EARLY THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI WITH:
-- MULTIPLE PLACENTAL INFARCTS.
-- PERIVILLOUS FIBRIN DEPOSITION.
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.

COMMENT:
The 10th percentile placental mass (pre-fixation) for 32 weeks and 6 
days is approximately 247 grams.

Suggestive of decidual vasculopathy

PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD AND FETAL MEMBRANES, CESAREAN SECTION:
- CHANGES SUGGESTIVE OF DECIDUAL VASCULOPATHY (DECIDUAL VASCULITIS).
- PLACENTAL DISC WITH EARLY THIRD TRIMESTER VILLI AND A PLACENTAL INFARCT
  (2.5 CM IN MAXIMAL DIMENSION).
- THREE VESSEL UMBILICAL CORD WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.
- FETAL MEMBRANES WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS.

HELLP syndrome

General

  • Diagnosed clinically.
  • Pathologically not the same as severe preclampsia.[74]

Definition:

  • H = hemolysis.
  • EL = elevated liver enzymes.
  • LP = low platelets.

Microscopic

Features:[75]

  • Thrombotic microangiopathic vasculopathy.
    • In essence: severe hypertrophic decidual vasculopathy. (???)

Malaria

Main article: Malaria

General

  • Uncommon in Canada.
  • May lead to fetal demise.

Microscopic

Feature:

  • RBCs with basophilic dots ~1-2 micrometres.

Image

  • Maternal malaria - very high mag. (WC)

Tumours

Main article: Gestational trophoblastic disease

Chorangioma

Main article: Chorangioma

Chorangiomatosis

General

Associated with:

Gross

  • Multiple tan nodules.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Multiple chorangiomas - the difference between chorangioma and chorangiomatosis is not well defined.[76]

Images:

Chorangiosis

Main article: Chorangiosis

Other

Fetus papyraceus

  • May be spelled foetus papyraceus.
  • AKA fetus compressus.

General

  • Remnant of a dead fetus usu. from a twin pregnancy.
    • No clinical consequence for mother and remaining fetus.

Clinical:[77]

  • Documented multiple gestation by imaging.
  • Elevated AFP.
  • May be a "fetal reduction" in the context of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Note:

  • "Papyraceus" = paper-like.

Gross

  • Pale yellow flattened disk or plaque with a pigmented macule[77] - on membranes or placental disc.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Fetal structures - such as:
    • Cartilage.
    • Bone.

Images:

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia

  • Abbreviated PMD.
Main article: Placental mesenchymal dysplasia

Placental cysts and pseudocysts

Types:[79]

  • Amnionic epithelial inclusion cyst (amniotic cyst).
  • Epidermal inclusion cyst - lined by keratinized squamous epithelium.
  • Chorionic cyst (AKA chorionic pseudocyts).
  • Cell island cyst.

Other considerations:[80]

  • Hematoma.
  • Fibrin-lined pseudocyst.

General:[80]

  • Usually good outcome.
  • Large cysts (>4.5 cm) or multiple cysts (>3) are associated with IUGR.

Images:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sun, CC.; Revell, VO.; Belli, AJ.; Viscardi, RM. (Jun 2002). "Discrepancy in pathologic diagnosis of placental lesions.". Arch Pathol Lab Med 126 (6): 706-9. doi:10.1043/0003-9985(2002)1260706:DIPDOP2.0.CO;2. PMID 12033960.
  2. ↑ Yetter JF (March 1998). "Examination of the placenta". Am Fam Physician 57 (5): 1045–54. PMID 9518951.
  3. ↑ Hargitai B, Marton T, Cox PM (August 2004). "Best practice no 178. Examination of the human placenta". J. Clin. Pathol. 57 (8): 785–92. doi:10.1136/jcp.2003.014217. PMC 1770400. PMID 15280396. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1770400/.
  4. ↑ URL: http://smj.sma.org.sg/5012/5012ra1.pdf. Accessed on: 11 February 2011.
  5. ↑ Sherman C. 8 February 2011.
  6. ↑ URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=5069. Accessed on: 7 July 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Sternberg, Stephen S. (1997). Histology for Pathologists (2nd ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 974. ISBN 978-0397517183.
  8. ↑ Sternberg, Stephen S. (1997). Histology for Pathologists (2nd ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 977. ISBN 978-0397517183.
  9. ↑ Narasimha, A.; Vasudeva, DS.. "Spectrum of changes in placenta in toxemia of pregnancy.". Indian J Pathol Microbiol 54 (1): 15-20. doi:10.4103/0377-4929.77317. PMID 21393870.
  10. ↑ URL: http://zulekhahospitals.com/uploads/files/Sub-chorionic.pdf. Accessed on: 17 August 2012.
  11. ↑ J Anat. Soc. India 49(2) 149-152 (2000). Available at: http://www.indmedica.com/anatomy/aindex1.cfm?anid=41. Accessed on: January 21, 2009.
  12. ↑ Winters R, Waters BL (December 2008). "What is adequate sampling of extraplacental membranes?: a randomized, prospective analysis". Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 132 (12): 1920–3. PMID 19061291.
  13. ↑ Lester, Susan Carole (2005). Manual of Surgical Pathology (2nd ed.). Saunders. pp. 461. ISBN 978-0443066450.
  14. ↑ CS. 7 February 2011.
  15. ↑ AFIP Placental pathol. ISBN: 1-881041-89-1. P.312
  16. ↑ AFIP Placental pathol. ISBN: 1-881041-89-1. P.312
  17. ↑ Fox, Harold; Sebire, Neil J. (2007). Pathology of the Placenta (Major Problems in Pathology) (3rd ed.). Saunders. pp. 559-561. ISBN 978-1416025924.
  18. ↑ URL: http://quizlet.com/5793113/ob-flash-cards/. Accessed on: 13 January 2012.
  19. ↑ Clarson, C.; Tevaarwerk, GJ.; Harding, PG.; Chance, GW.; Haust, MD.. "Placental weight in diabetic pregnancies.". Placenta 10 (3): 275-81. PMID 2771897.
  20. ↑ Hindmarsh, PC.; Geary, MP.; Rodeck, CH.; Jackson, MR.; Kingdom, JC. (Aug 2000). "Effect of early maternal iron stores on placental weight and structure.". Lancet 356 (9231): 719-23. PMID 11085691.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 464. ISBN 978-0781765275.
  22. ↑ Srinivasan R, Arora RS (January 2005). "Do well infants born with an isolated single umbilical artery need investigation?". Arch. Dis. Child. 90 (1): 100–1. doi:10.1136/adc.2004.062372. PMC 1720078. PMID 15613529. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1720078/.
  23. ↑ Lilja M (July 1994). "Infants with single umbilical artery studied in a national registry. 3: A case control study of risk factors". Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 8 (3): 325–33. PMID 7997408.
  24. ↑ URL: http://www.glowm.com/?p=glowm.cml/section_view&articleid=151. Accessed on: 8 January 2011.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Hasegawa J, Farina A, Nakamura M, et al. (December 2010). "Analysis of the ultrasonographic findings predictive of vasa previa". Prenat. Diagn. 30 (12-13): 1121–5. doi:10.1002/pd.2618. PMID 20872421.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Airas U, Heinonen S (April 2002). "Clinical significance of true umbilical knots: a population-based analysis". Am J Perinatol 19 (3): 127–32. doi:10.1055/s-2002-25311. PMID 12012287.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 464. ISBN 978-0781765275.
  28. ↑ CS. 7 February 2011.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 465. ISBN 978-0781765275.
  30. ↑ Khong TY (December 2010). "Evidence-based pathology: umbilical cord coiling". Pathology 42 (7): 618–22. doi:10.3109/00313025.2010.520309. PMID 21080869.
  31. ↑ PMID 16076615.
  32. ↑ URL: http://flylib.com/books/en/2.953.1.49/1/. Accessed on: 10 January 2011.
  33. ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/PLACHTML/PLAC042.html. Accessed on: 12 January 2011.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5 34.6 Adeniran, AJ.; Stanek, J. (Dec 2007). "Amnion nodosum revisited: clinicopathologic and placental correlations.". Arch Pathol Lab Med 131 (12): 1829-33. doi:10.1043/1543-2165(2007)131[1829:ANRCAP]2.0.CO;2. PMID 18081444.
  35. ↑ CS. 7 February 2011.
  36. ↑ Humphrey, Peter A; Dehner, Louis P; Pfeifer, John D (2008). The Washington Manual of Surgical Pathology (1st ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 463. ISBN 978-0781765275.
  37. ↑ Chew, RH.; Silberberg, BK. (Apr 1990). "Possible association of acute inflammatory exudate in chorioamnionitis and amniotic squamous metaplasia.". Am J Clin Pathol 93 (4): 582-5. PMID 2321592.
  38. ↑ CS. 7 February 2011.
  39. ↑ URL: http://flylib.com/books/en/2.953.1.49/1/. Accessed on: 10 January 2011.
  40. ↑ Suzuki, S. (Feb 2008). "Clinical significance of pregnancies with circumvallate placenta.". J Obstet Gynaecol Res 34 (1): 51-4. doi:10.1111/j.1447-0756.2007.00682.x. PMID 18226129.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Furuhashi, M.; Oda, H.; Nakashima, T. (Sep 2000). "Hydrops of placental stem villi complicated with fetal congenital adrenal hyperplasia.". Arch Gynecol Obstet 264 (2): 101-4. PMID 11045335.
  42. ↑ URL: http://www.med.yale.edu/obgyn/kliman/placenta/articles/EOR_Placenta/Trophtoplacenta.html. Accessed on: 28 May 2011.
  43. ↑ Baergen, Rebecca N. (2011). Manual of Pathology of the Human Placenta (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 346. ISBN 978-1441974938.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Tantbirojn, P.; Crum, CP.; Parast, MM. (Jul 2008). "Pathophysiology of placenta creta: the role of decidua and extravillous trophoblast.". Placenta 29 (7): 639-45. doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2008.04.008. PMID 18514815.
  45. ↑ Wortman, AC.; Alexander, JM. (Mar 2013). "Placenta accreta, increta, and percreta.". Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 40 (1): 137-54. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2012.12.002. PMID 23466142.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Böcker, Werner; Denk, Helmut; Heitz, Philipp U.; Moch, Holger (2008). [Pathologie] (4th ed.). Urban & Fischer Verlag/Elsevier GmbH. pp. 974. ISBN 978-3437423826.
  47. ↑ van Beekhuizen, HJ.; Joosten, I.; de Groot, AN.; Lotgering, FK.; van der Laak, J.; Bulten, J. (Sep 2009). "The number of multinucleated trophoblastic giant cells in the basal decidua is decreased in retained placenta.". J Clin Pathol 62 (9): 794-7. doi:10.1136/jcp.2009.065953. PMID 19734475.
  48. ↑ URL: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/EXAM/IMGQUIZ/plfrm.html. Accessed on: 3 December 2011.
  49. ↑ Tikkanen M, Nuutila M, Hiilesmaa V, Paavonen J, Ylikorkala O (2006). "Clinical presentation and risk factors of placental abruption". Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 85 (6): 700–5. doi:10.1080/00016340500449915. PMID 16752262.
  50. ↑ CS. 7 February 2011.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Cotran, Ramzi S.; Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelson; Nelso Fausto; Robbins, Stanley L.; Abbas, Abul K. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (7th ed.). St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Saunders. pp. 1106. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 Mills, Stacey E; Carter, Darryl; Greenson, Joel K; Oberman, Harold A; Reuter, Victor E (2004). Sternberg's Diagnostic Surgical Pathology (4th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 2311. ISBN 978-0781740517.
  53. ↑ Vedovato, S.; Zanardo, V. (Jun 2010). "[Chorioamnionitis and inflammatory disease in the premature newborn infant].". Minerva Pediatr 62 (3 Suppl 1): 155-6. PMID 21090086.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Jacques, SM.; Qureshi, F. (Oct 1993). "Chronic intervillositis of the placenta.". Arch Pathol Lab Med 117 (10): 1032-5. PMID 8215826.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Rota, C.; Carles, D.; Schaeffer, V.; Guyon, F.; Saura, R.; Horovitz, J. (Nov 2006). "[Perinatal prognosis of pregnancies complicated by placental chronic intervillitis].". J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris) 35 (7): 711-9. PMID 17088773.
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Sebire NJ, Backos M, Goldin RD, Regan L (May 2002). "Placental massive perivillous fibrin deposition associated with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome". BJOG 109 (5): 570–3. PMID 12066949. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=1470-0328&date=2002&volume=109&issue=5&spage=570.
  57. ↑ Baergen, Rebecca N. (2011). Manual of Pathology of the Human Placenta (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 327. ISBN 978-1441974938.
  58. ↑ Baergen, Rebecca N. (2011). Manual of Pathology of the Human Placenta (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 367. ISBN 978-1441974938.
  59. ↑ Weedman Molavi, Diana (2008). The Practice of Surgical Pathology: A Beginner's Guide to the Diagnostic Process (1st ed.). Springer. pp. 178. ISBN 978-0387744858.
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 Roberts, DJ.; Post, MD. (Dec 2008). "The placenta in pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.". J Clin Pathol 61 (12): 1254-60. doi:10.1136/jcp.2008.055236. PMID 18641412.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Katzman, PJ.; Genest, DR.. "Maternal floor infarction and massive perivillous fibrin deposition: histological definitions, association with intrauterine fetal growth restriction, and risk of recurrence.". Pediatr Dev Pathol 5 (2): 159-64. doi:10.1007/s10024-001-0195-y. PMID 11910510.
  62. ↑ Kanfer, A.; Bruch, JF.; Nguyen, G.; He, CJ.; Delarue, F.; Flahault, A.; Nessmann, C.; Uzan, S. (Jan 1996). "Increased placental antifibrinolytic potential and fibrin deposits in pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.". Lab Invest 74 (1): 253-8. PMID 8569189.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Baergen, Rebecca N. (2011). Manual of Pathology of the Human Placenta (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 368. ISBN 978-1441974938.
  64. ↑ AFIP - Placental Pathology. P.135. ISBN: 1-881041-89-1. 2004.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Marchetti, D.; Belviso, M.; Fulcheri, E. (Mar 2009). "A case of stillbirth: the importance of placental investigation in medico-legal practice.". Am J Forensic Med Pathol 30 (1): 64-8. doi:10.1097/PAF.0b013e318187387e. PMID 19237859.
  66. ↑ Stevens NG, Sander CH (October 1984). "Placental hemorrhagic endovasculitis: risk factors and impact on pregnancy outcome". Int J Gynaecol Obstet 22 (5): 393–7. PMID 6151926.
  67. ↑ Sander CM, Gilliland D, Akers C, McGrath A, Bismar TA, Swart-Hills LA (February 2002). "Livebirths with placental hemorrhagic endovasculitis: interlesional relationships and perinatal outcomes". Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 126 (2): 157–64. PMID 11825110.
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 Soma H, Yoshida K, Mukaida T, Tabuchi Y (1982). "Morphologic changes in the hypertensive placenta". Contrib Gynecol Obstet 9: 58–75. PMID 6754249.
  69. ↑ Sherman, C. 7 February 2011.
  70. ↑ AFIP - Placental Pathology. P.122. ISBN: 1-881041-89-1. 2004.
  71. ↑ Baergen, Rebecca N. (2011). Manual of Pathology of the Human Placenta (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 339. ISBN 978-1441974938.
  72. ↑ Naicker, T.; Khedun, SM.; Moodley, J.; Pijnenborg, R. (Aug 2003). "Quantitative analysis of trophoblast invasion in preeclampsia.". Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 82 (8): 722-9. PMID 12848643.
  73. ↑ URL: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case75.html. Accessed on: 2 January 2012.
  74. ↑ Vinnars MT, Wijnaendts LC, Westgren M, Bolte AC, Papadogiannakis N, Nasiell J (May 2008). "Severe preeclampsia with and without HELLP differ with regard to placental pathology". Hypertension 51 (5): 1295–9. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.104844. PMID 18362224.
  75. ↑ Ornstein MH, Rand JH (July 1994). "An association between refractory HELLP syndrome and antiphospholipid antibodies during pregnancy; a report of 2 cases". J. Rheumatol. 21 (7): 1360–4. PMID 7966086.
  76. ↑ URL: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case655/dx.html. Accessed on: 28 January 2012.
  77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 Baergen, Rebecca N. (2011). Manual of Pathology of the Human Placenta (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 141. ISBN 978-1441974938.
  78. ↑ URL: http://www.neonet.ch/en/03_Case_of_the_month/archive/11_dermatologic_disorders/2002_10.asp. Accessed on: 3 January 2012.
  79. ↑ Baergen, Rebecca N. (2011). Manual of Pathology of the Human Placenta (2nd ed.). Springer. pp. 219-220. ISBN 978-1441974938.
  80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 Brown, DL.; DiSalvo, DN.; Frates, MC.; Davidson, KM.; Genest, DR. (Jun 2002). "Placental surface cysts detected on sonography: histologic and clinical correlation.". J Ultrasound Med 21 (6): 641-6; quiz 647-8. PMID 12054300.

Recommended reading

External links

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