A. Laussel-riera et al., Interest of fetal autopsy in induced abortions: comparison of prenatal diagnosis and post mortem examination of 300 fetus, ANN PATHOL, 20(6), 2000, pp. 549-557
This 3.5-year retrospective study report 300 fetus autopsies after pregnanc
y termination because of prenatal diagnosis of malformation. The objective
was to evaluate the usefulness of postnatal examination of fetuses and to c
ompare the post mortem findings with the prenatal diagnosis. This study inc
luded ultrasonography, radiology, karyotype, microbiology, generic counseli
ng and derailed pathological evaluation of the fetus : external, macroscopi
c microscopic, brain and placenta examination. The results of post mortem e
xamination were of paramount importance: they either changed the prenatal d
iagnosis hypothesis (20.3 %), provided extensive additional information (41
%), or confirmed the diagnosis hypothesis (38.7 %). This study confirms th
e need for fetopathology examination after medical abortion. The pathologis
t's contribution to the multidisciplinary management of prenatally diagnose
d fetal abnormalities is fundamental in particular for further generic coun
seling; a specialized pathologist should be present in all prenatal diagnos
is centers.