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Placenta Accreta and Placenta Previa
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Placenta Accreta and Placenta Previa

The image is of a hemisected uterus with the cervix to the right and fundus to the left.
The placenta is still within the uterus and is adherent to the myometrium.
The low implantation of the placenta meant that a portion covered the cervical os forming placenta previa.
(Description By:Melinda Sanders, M.D. )
(Image Contrib. by: Hartford Hospital )
Placenta Accreta
Etiology

Unknown
Pathogenesis

Absent decidua at implantation site due to scar or abnormal implantation site (cervix)
Permits deep invasion of trophoblast either into very superficial muscle (accreta), deep muscle (increta) or through the serosa (percreta),
Epidemiology

Associated with placenta previa
Associated with previous C-sections
General Gross Description

In simple accreta the maternal surface of the placenta is shaggy and irregular with variable amounts of fragmentation of the cotyledons
In increta or percreta the placenta cannot be removed from the uterus at all and rupture of the uterus is a common complication
General Microscopic Description

Accreta may show adherent myometrium along the basal plate of the placenta
Increta/percreta show villi growing into or through myometrium
Clinical Correlation

Associated with uterine rupture, hemorrhage, and failure to deliver placenta
References

Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital Tract, 4th ed. Kurman RJ (ed). New York: Springer-Verlag, 1994, pp. 984-5.
Placenta Accreta
Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T88100M29210)[418]
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