This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Charles B. Mulhern, Jr, MD; Peter H. Arger, MD; Beverly G. Coleman, MD

JAMA. 1980;244(20):2339-2341.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

EXAMINATION of the placenta is routinely performed by the obstetrician at the time of delivery. If any gross abnormality is observed or if the condition of the newborn warrants, the placenta is submitted for pathological evaluation. In essence, this is a retrospective analysis of the placenta. Ultrasound, however, provides a safe noninvasive method for examination of the placenta and its associated abnormalities in situ.¹

This article presents representative cases demonstrating the capabilities of ultrasound in evaluating the macroscopic, antenatal features of placental disorders. The cases reported also illustrate the important role of the ultrasonographer in the antenatal diagnosis of placental abnormalities. This permits prompt institution of therapy or avoidance of other unnecessary diagnostic procedures.

As the organ of fetomaternal transfer, the placenta often reflects disorders of the fetus and mother as well as abnormalities of placental development (Table).

Materials and Methods

Commercially available, gray-scale ultrasound units provide excellent anatomic . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Dr Mulhern).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?