Calcification of the Placenta

Foetal Autopsy-Categories and Causes of Death

“…Fox [24] stated that calcification is in no way related to degenerative changes but that fetal distress and neonatal asphyxia were more common with calcified placenta [Table/ Fig-8]. …”

“…Fetal death is defined as death prior to the complete extraction or expulsion from its mother of a product of conception irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, the death being indicated by the absence of any signs of life. It is divided further as early (<22 wk of gestational age); intermediate (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) wk gestational age) and late (≥28 wk gestational age). Of these early are designated as abortions whereas intermediate and late are known as stillbirths [1].…”

The perinatal postmortem examination

“…Prolonged fixation makes the tissue firm and provides a better cut surface than sectioning after short fixation, when the tissue will still be friable. The various lesions that may easily be seen include true infarcts, perivillous fibrin deposits, intervillous thrombosis, and septal cysts (Fox, 1963(Fox, , 1964Devi, Jennison, and Langley, 1968). Four or five blocks of tissue should be taken from the central slice and membranes for microscopic examination: one through the whole thickness of the placenta at the centre of the slice and another at the site of insertion of the cord if this is not central; one at each end of the central slice and including a little of the adjacent membrane; another in the membranes at the site of rupture; and a transverse section of the cord about an inch from the foetal surface (Fig.…”

Sonographic features of placental complications in pregnancy

“…An intraplacental hematoma can also be visualized as a cystic or complex mass simulating a tumor ( fig. 1 2) In Rh isoimmunization, the enlargement is due to edema and hyperplasia of the villous tree [1 ]. Sonographically, this may appear as homogeneous thickening of an otherwise normal-appearing placenta ( fig.…”