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Antenatal screening for circumvallate placenta

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Abstract

Purpose

Prenatal recognition of circumvallate placenta is important because the condition may lead to some serious perinatal complications.

Methods

The possibility of antenatal ultrasonographic screening for circumvallate placenta was examined by measuring the thickness of the placenta at the thickest point. The study group consisted of 722 unselected patients with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies seen for routine ultrasonographic examination between 18 and 21 weeks’ gestation. Data were collected from 11 deliveries complicated by completely circumvallate placenta and from 711 unaffected controls.

Results

The average thickness of the placenta was 2.22 ± 0.36 cm in the control subjects, whereas it was 2.74 ± 0.53 cm (P = 0.01 versus control) for circumvallate placentas. When a placental thickness greater than 3.0 cm was demonstrated, 19.4% (6/31) had a circumvallate placenta at delivery (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The current results suggest that measurement of placental thickness is useful for screening for circumvallate placenta.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital, 5-11-12 Tateishi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 124-0012, Japan

    Shunji Suzuki

Authors
  1. Shunji Suzuki
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Correspondence to Shunji Suzuki.

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Suzuki, S. Antenatal screening for circumvallate placenta. J Med Ultrasonics 35, 71–73 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-007-0168-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-007-0168-5

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