PLACENTAL LESIONS - IS GROWTH A PREDICTOR OF BAD OUTCOME

Placental lesions are difficult to assess because there is often a dis crepancy between the ultrasound findings, clinical diagnosis and patho logy. Large placental lesions especially when solid and echogenic on u ltrasound may be associated with a high maternal serum alpha-fetoprote in, intrauterine growth retardation or uteroplacental insufficiency. W e report three cases in which mainly solid placental lesions were note d to increase in size during the second trimester and the placental we ights at birth were relatively heavy when compared to the fetal weight . In all cases there were serious pregnancy complications. Pathologica l examination showed infarction, haematoma or both. We suggest that th e growth of placental lesions during pregnancy may be an important sig n related to the severity of the disease and therefore poor outcome.