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Pathologic Examination of the Placenta and Its Benefits in Treatment Plan or Follow-Up of Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study Publisher Pubmed



Akhavan S1 ; Borna S2 ; Abdollahi A3 ; Shariat M4 ; Zamani N1
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Vali-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex (IKHC), Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Perinatalogy, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Pathology, Imam Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Research Center-Breastfeeding Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Source: European Journal of Medical Research Published:2022


Abstract

Background: The placental examination provides important information about the effect of maternal abnormalities on the placenta or the cause of preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, or fetal neurodevelopmental damage. In this study, the frequency of placental pathologies of patients in a tertiary hospital was investigated. Methods: In this longitudinal and cross-sectional study, all removed placentas after any type of pregnancy termination referred to a pathological examination, within 1 year (2019–2020). All placentas were examined macroscopically and microscopically by two pathologists. Results: Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pregnant women in our hospital declined. A total of 258 placentas were examined. The type of delivery in 193 cases (79.4%) was cesarean section and 50 cases (20.6%) had a vaginal delivery. In the pathological assessment of placentas, 238 (92.2%) cases were normal and 20 cases (7.8%) were abnormal. Infarct and chorioamnionitis were the pathologies with higher frequencies (4.3% and 2.7%, respectively). Intra-uterine fetal death (p = 0.701), preeclampsia (p = 0.51) had no significant difference was seen in normal and abnormal placentas. Maternal age (p = 0.83), gestational age based on the last menstrual period (p = 0.38), and gestational age based on the first ultrasound (p = 0.78) did not show a significant relationship with any of the pathological complications categories. Conclusions: Pathological examination of the placenta from all live-birth deliveries is not worthwhile, and it’s recommended to modify the guidelines as to when the placenta is submitted for pathological evaluation. © 2022, The Author(s).