Placental Pathology Flashcards
By 12 weeks of gestation, two distinct components of the placenta are recognizable, what are they?
- Fetal portion
- Maternal portion
What is another name for the fetal portion?
Chorion frondosum AKA chorionic plate
What is another name for the maternal portion?
Decidua basalia AKA basal plate
What is the two portions of the placenta held together by?
Anchoring stem villi at the Cytotrophoblastic shell
Projections of the decidua basalis is called what? What does it do?
- Placental septa
- Divides the placenta into compartments
What is a cotyledon?
Compartment of the placental septa
There are about ____ cotyledons in a placenta?
20
Basic texture of the placenta changes how during gestation?
Does not change with gestational age except for the deposition of calcium
Placental calcifications are present in >50% of placentas after how many weeks?
33 weeks
Calcium deposits are found primarily in what area?
Basal plate or septa, but may be seen in the subchorionic and previllous spaces
Amount of calcification is increased in patients with what three things?
- IUGR
- Hypertension
- Smoking
How many grades of the placenta are there?
4: Grade 0-3
What is a grade 0 placenta?
Homogenous, chorionic plate is straight
What does a grade 1 placenta look like?
- Scattered echogenic areas
- Subtle undulations
What does a grade 2 placenta look like? 2
- Indentations
- Linear echogenic areas
What does a grade 3 placenta look like? 3
- Indentations to basal layer
- Cystic areas
- Shadowing calcifications (after 36-38 weeks)
How do we document the placenta? What do we need to ensure during this process? 4
- Document the placental position in SAG and TRX.
- Measure from placental edge to the internal OS of the cervix
- Document the placental cord insertion in SAG and TRX
- Ensure there is only one placental mass
What do we need to assess during placental documentation?
Texture and thickness
During placental documentation we need to measure the placenta how?
From the placental edge to the internal OS of the cervix
The placenta should be a minimum of ________ away from the internal OS of the cervix?
2cm
The cord insertion for the placenta should be how far from the placental edge in both planes?
> 2cm
What is the shape of the placenta?
Flat and circular
How heavy is the placenta?
500-600 grams
How thick is the placenta?
1.5 - 4cm
The placenta grows how much a week in thickness?
1mm
When measuring the placenta, we do not include what in the measurement?
The myometrium or retroplacental complex
What is considered placentalmegaly?
> 4cm
What is the etiology of placentomegaly? 6
- Maternal diabetes
- Maternal anemia
- Hydrops
- Intrauterine infection
- Partial mole
- Chromosomal abnormalities
Thickness of the placenta usually depends on what?
Gestational age
What is considered a thin placenta?
<1.5 cm
Why do we normally have thin placenta?
Placenta insufficiency
What is the etiology of thin placenta? 2
- Vascular deficiency or infarction
- Pre-eclampsia
What are some pre-eclampsia signs that results in thin placentas? 3
- Hypertension
- Proteinuria
- Edema
Thin placenta may cause what?
IUGR
Intraplacental lesions have what type of clinical significance?
None
What are two examples of intraplacental lesions?
- Maternal lakes (Subchorionic fibrin deposition)
- Placental lakes (Perivillous fibrin deposition)
What are maternal lakes?
Sonolucent area adjacent to chorionic plate
What does maternal lakes result in?
Pooling and stasis of maternal blood
Often what type of flow is demonstrated in maternal lakes?
Rouleaux flow
What does placental lakes look like? What might be visualized with them?
Well defined intraplacental hypoechoic lesions in which rouleaux flow is sometimes visible.
What is placental lakes caused by?
Turbulence and stasis of maternal blood in intervillous space within secondary fibrin deposition
Placental lakes can be abnormal if seen in 1st trimester, why?
Due to association with placenta accreta spectrum and placental insufficiency
What are two examples of intraplacental lesions?
- Intervillous and subchorionic thrombus
- Septal cysts
What are intervillous and subchorionic thrombus caused by?
Fetal bleeding into intervillous space
What does intervillous and subchorionic thrombus contain? How do they appear?
Fibrin and appear as intraplacental hypoechic lesions
Where are intervillous and subchorionic thrombosis located?
Perivillous and subchorionic spaces
Intervillous sand subchorionic thrombus are thought to be how significant? What are they associated with?
Insignificant as well but are associated with RH isoimmunization cases
Septal cysts are located where?
Top of septa.
Septal cysts are thought to be a result from what?
Obstructed venous drainage
How does septal cysts appear?
Hypoechoic intraplacental lesions
What are placental infarcts?
Microscopic triangular shaped lesions on maternal side of placenta
What are placental infarcts due to? What does it lead to?
Obstruction of maternal blood flow leading to necrosis
In terms of placental infarcts, over 10% involvement of the placenta is considered what three things?
- Extensive and associated with IUGR
- Fetal hypoxia
- Fetal demise
Are placental infarcts generally seen on U/S?
No
Most placenta look how in the 1st and early second trimester?
Low
What can make the placenta look low?
Distended bladders
How does placenta previa appear? What are two other names for placenta previa?
- Low lying
- Marginal or partial placental previa
- Complete placenta previa
What is the clinical history for placenta previa?
Painless vaginal bleeding
What is a low lying placenta?
When the placenta is <2cm from the internal OS but not overlying it
What is a partial placenta previa?
Placenta touches the internal OS
What is a complete placental previa?
Placenta completely covers the internal OS
What do we need to do if the bladder is over distended when viewing the placenta previa?
Empty some bladder
When would we empty the bladder when look for placenta previa? 2
- If cervix looks longer than 4 cm
- Over distended
Why do we need to empty the bladder when we assess for placenta previa?
To asses for uterine contraction in cervix area
At the 18-20 week scan, if the placenta is <2cm from the internal os after a post void bladder assessment, what must be done? How long will they need to do this?
- The patient will return at 24-28 weeks for follow up
- Until the placenta migrates away from the internal OS by >2cm. Most do migrate but a few will continue to be low lying
What do we need to use with EV for placenta previa?
Use condom or non latex probe cover
What does EV for placenta previa require from sonographers?
Experience
What is required from the patient for a EV for placenta previa? 2
- No bleeding for 24 hours
- Empty bladder
What is the process of EV for placenta previa? 2
- Insert slowly under direct visualization
- Use little to no pressure against cervix
Where does the umbilical cord attachment to placenta insert?
At or near the center of placenta
What is a battledore?
Marginal cord insertion
Where is the cord of a battledore in terms of the placental edge?
<2cm
What can a battledore progress to?
Velamentous
What is a velamentou insertion?
Cord inserting into the chorionic membranes and then vessels track to placenta
With velamentous insertion, vessels are not protected by placenta or Wharton jelly, therefore more susceptible to what?
Rupture
Battledores and velamentous CI are associated with what? 4
- IUGR
- FHR abnormalities
- Placental abruption
- Preterm labour
What are some variations in shape for battledore s and velamentous CI? 3
- Succenturiate
- Extrachorial
- Membranacea
What are two different branches of extrachorial?
- Circummarginate
- Circumvallate
What is a succenturiate? 2
- Accessory lobe
- Separate piece of placenta connected to main placenta via vessels within membrane
Succenturiate are at a higher risk of what two things?
- Increased risk of retained products
- Increased risk of vasa previa
What are vasa previa in relation to succenturiate?
Vessels connecting placenta to succenturiate lobe going across cervix
What is a vasa previa?
Unprotected fetal vessels travelling in the membranes across the lower uterine segment of cervix
In terms of vasa previa, vessels may do what?
Rupture in labour or with rupture of membranes, carrying a high risk of fetal death
If Vasa previa is identified penatally, what is planned? What does this do for survival rate?
C-section is planned for 34-36 weeks and outcome is >97% survival rate