Missed abortion

Placenta
Placental findings in specific newborn / fetal or maternal conditions
Missed abortion

Author: Mandolin Ziadie, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 16 October 2017, last major update October 2011

Copyright: (c) 2002-2017, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: Missed abortion [title] placenta

Table of Contents

Definition / general | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosis

Cite this page: Ziadie, M. Missed abortion. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/placentamissedab.html. Accessed August 20th, 2018.

Definition / general

Fetal death with delayed abortion resulting in passage of placental tissue without an embryo

Gross description

Placental tissue including a gestational sac and villi are present in the absence of a fetus

Microscopic (histologic) description

Normal or hydropic villi, sometimes with cisterns and without trophoblastic hyperplasia
Dysmorphic villi suggest a chromosomal abnormality
Other features may reveal a cause of fetal death including vasculitis, infarction, perivillous fibrin, deciduitis and intervillositis

Differential diagnosis

Molar pregnancy