Histopathological study of placenta and decidua in mid trimester abortions
Salhan, S.A.; Dube, S.; Mehrotra, M.L.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of India 29(4): 811-814
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0971-9202 PMID: 12336036 Document Number: 575252
A histological study of the placenta and decidua of the clinical material of 200 healthy young pregnant women (pregnancy 15-20 weeks) whose pregnancies were terminated by intraamniotic 20% hypertonic saline solution was conducted during 1974-1976 at the postpartum unit in the University Hospital, VAranasi, India. Detailed microscopic and macroscopic examination of placenta and decidua was possible in only 90 cases. The gross examination of placentae failed to reveal any remarkable abnormality on the external surface, except in 3 cases. Microscopic abnormalities of varying degree were observed in almost all placentae. In all the cases the amniotic epithelium showed fibrinoid necrosis, coagulative necrosis of the cytoplasm and pyknosis of the nuclei. The membrane itself had become thickened and relatively avascular, and the intervillous spaces showed profuse hemorrhages although villi themselves were more or less normal. Chorionic villi also showed varying degree of proliferation of syncytiotrophoblastic cells which at places formed syncytial knots. The decidual cells showed degenerative alteration with pyknosis on Karyorrhexis and vacuolization of the cytoplasm.