Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 2, Issue 4 155-159, Copyright © 1983 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ultrasonographic findings in placenta increta
M. E. Pasto, A. B. Kurtz, M. D. Rifkin, C. Cole-Beuglet, R. J. Wapner and B. B. Goldberg
Placenta increta, invasion of the myometrium by normal placental
(chorionic) villi, can be life-threatening to a mother at delivery. In two
reported cases of pathologically proven placenta increta, the abnormal
areas were retrospectively identified on ultrasonographic images. In both
cases, there was consistent focal obliteration of the hypoechoic
retroplacental zone by either tissue of echogenicity similar to that of the
normal placenta or tissue of slightly decreased echogenicity. This was
found to represent extension of the villi through the decidua basalis into
the myometrium. The spectrum of non-malignant invasive placentas and the
specific ultrasonographic findings that should allow prospective diagnosis
are discussed.