Products of conception

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Products of conception, abbreviated POC, is stuff formed from the union of egg and sperm.

History

  • Therapeutic abortions - may be abbreviated "MVC" (manual vacuum aspiration)[1]

Microscopic

Features:

  • Chorionic villi are need to call POC - key feature.
    • Cytotrophoblast.
    • Centre of villi often have fetal red blood cells (which have nuclei) -- not required for diagnosis of POC.
  • Should have decidual reaction of endometrium.
    • Decidual changes -- mnemonic NEW:
      • Nucleus central.
      • Eosinophilic cytoplasm.
      • Well-defined cell borders.
  • Embryo or fetus - a bonus.

ASIDE:

  • Embryo = conceptus before 8 weeks.
  • Fetus = conceptus 8th weeks 'til birth.

Beta-hCG

Calculator: http://www.countdowntopregnancy.com/tools/beta_doubling_calculator.php

Ectopic pregnancy

Arias-Stellas reaction

  • Large nuclei - to the novice... it looks really scary.
  • NC ratio is preserved.
  • May see nuclear clearing.[2]

Screening tests

First trimester screen

  • PAPP-A.
  • Nuchal translucency.
  • beta-hCG.

Maternal serum screen

  • Alpha-fetoprotein.
  • Beta-hCG.
  • Estriol.

Diagnostic tests

  • Chorionic villus sampling (10-12 weeks???)
  • Amniocentesis (15-16 weeks+)

References

  1. Edelman A, Nichols MD, Jensen J (June 2001). "Comparison of pain and time of procedures with two first-trimester abortion techniques performed by residents and faculty". Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 184 (7): 1564-7. PMID 11408881. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0002937801372241.
  2. Tadrous, Paul.J. Diagnostic Criteria Handbook in Histopathology: A Surgical Pathology Vade Mecum (1st ed.). Wiley. pp. 236 (bottom). ISBN 978-0470519035. .