Abstract
Histology of the placenta can be very challenging for pathologists, especially when dealing with the villous tissue. Here the normal morphology changes as gestation progresses and abnormal development must be interpreted in that context. This chapter includes guidance for evaluating placental slides from their initial gross inspection through full microscopy. Incidental and significant processes will be discussed for all placental regions including umbilical cord, free membranes, chorionic and basal plates, and villi of various regions. Specific pathology is not detailed but appropriate areas in the text are referenced.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Al-Adnani M, Marnerides A, George S, Nasir A, Weber M, Redline RW, Fritsch M, Machin G, Cornejo-Palma D, de Nanassy J, El-Demellawy D, von Dadelszen P, Benton SJ, Grynspan D. Delayed villous maturation in placental reporting: concordance among consultant pediatric pathologists at a single specialist center. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2015;18:375–9.
Mukherjee A, Chan ADC, Keating S, et al. The placental distal villous hypoplasia pattern: interobserver agreement and automated fractal dimension as an objective metric. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2016;19:31–6.
Straughen JK, Misra DP, Ernst LM, Charles AK, VanHorn S, Ghosh S, Buhimschi I, Buhimschi C, Divine G, Salafia CM. Methods to decrease variability in histological scoring in placentas from a cohort of preterm infants. BMJ Open. 2017;7:e013877. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013877.
Langston C, Kaplan C, Macpherson T, Manci E, Peevy K, Clark B, Murtagh C, Cox S, Glenn G. Practice guideline for examination of the placenta: developed by the placental pathology practice guideline development task force of the college of American pathologists. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1997;121:449–76.
Redline RW, Faye-Petersen O, Heller D, Qureshi F, Savell V, Vogler C. Amniotic infection syndrome: nosology and reproducibility of placental reaction patterns. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2003;6:435–48.
Redline RW, Boyd T, Campbell V, Hyde S, Kaplan C, Khong TY, Prashner HR, Waters BL. Maternal vascular underperfusion: nosology and reproducibility of placental reaction patterns. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2004;7:237–49.
Khong TY, Mooney EE, Ariel I, Balmus NC, Boyd TK, Brundler MA, Derricott H, Evans MJ, Faye-Petersen OM, Gillan JE, Heazell AE, Heller DS, Jacques SM, Keating S, Kelehan P, Maes A, McKay EM, Morgan TK, Nikkels PG, Parks WT, Redline RW, Scheimberg I, Schoots MH, Sebire NJ, Timmer A, Turowski G, van der Voorn JP, van Lijnschoten I, Gordijn SJ. Sampling and definitions of placental lesions: Amsterdam placental workshop group consensus statement. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016;140(7):698–713.
Khong TY, Mooney EE, Nikkels PGJ, Morgan TK, Gordijn SJ. Pathology of the placenta: a practical guide. New York: Springer; 2019.
Loukeris K, Sela R, Baergen RN. Syncytial knots as a reflection of placental maturity: reference values for 20 to 40 weeks' gestational age. Pediatr Dev Pathol. 2010;13:305–9.
Jacques SM, Qureshi F. Chronic chorioamnionitis: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study. Hum Pathol. 1998;29:1457–14.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kaplan, C.G., Baergen, R.N. (2022). Approach to Histologic Examination of the Placenta. In: Baergen, R.N., Burton, G.J., Kaplan, C.G. (eds) Benirschke's Pathology of the Human Placenta. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84725-8_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84725-8_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-84724-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-84725-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)