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Placental lakes on sonographic examination: correlation with obstetric outcome and pathologic findings.

Reis NS, Brizot ML, Schultz R, Nomura RM, Zugaib M

Department of Obstetrics, Hospital das Clinicas, São Paulo University Medical School, Instituto Central 10 Andar, Rua Dr Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 255, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare pregnancy outcome and pathologic findings in cases of placental lake visualized on sonography in pregnancies without concurrent fetal or maternal disease. METHODS: Placental aspect was evaluated sonographically in 4,106 singleton pregnancies without maternal or fetal disease at between 15 and 34 weeks3 gestation. Fifty-nine cases presenting with placental lakes were followed through the end of pregnancy. Obstetric outcome was compared with that of cases with sonographically normal placental aspects (n=37). Macroscopic and microscopic examinations for pathology were also performed in a few cases in both groups. RESULTS: Placental lakes were present in 2.2% (92/4,106) of the cases. No statistically significant difference was observed in birth weight, gestational age at delivery, adverse obstetric outcome, and macroscopic or microscopic results between the control and study groups. CONCLUSION: Our findings do not seem to indicate an increase in the risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome in cases presenting with placental lakes.

Published 1 February 2005 in J Clin Ultrasound, 33(2): 67-71.
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