The Diagnosis of Pregnancy from Curettings

Abstract

If for clinical reasons it becomes necessary to interrupt an early pregnancy, a curettage usually yields so much amnion, immature placenta, and abundant decidual tissue that no difficulties in diagnosis arise. Although these tissues generally are normal, they are of value for us, serving as ideal standards which we need for comparison in evaluating and diagnosing tissues from diseased pregnancies. Histological study of the embryo lies within the province of research workers who ordinarily concern themselves with specific problems. Then too, study of the embryo in the daily routine of gynecological pathology is seldom required, since a primary injury of the fetus causing abortion almost always reveals itself by failure of the fetal vessels in the placental villi to develop.