Placentomegaly
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Knipe H, Jones J, et al. Placentomegaly. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 25 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-13573
rID:
13573
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Revisions:
12 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- Placental enlargement
- Enlarged placenta
- Large placenta
- Abnormally large placenta
- Enlargement of placenta
Placentomegaly is a term applied to an abnormally enlarged placenta.
On this page:
Epidemiology
Associations
It can be associated with several maternal and fetal disorders:
-
maternal
maternal diabetes
chronic intrauterine infections
-
fetal
umbilical vein obstruction
fetal high output failure
-
fetal malformation
hydrops fetalis and causative underlying conditions
-
triploid: with an extra set from paternal origin
hydrops fetalis (noting overlap with other causes listed) 10
-
placental abnormalities
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
May show an increase in placental thickness and/or placental extent. The increase in size may be homo or heterogeneous dependent on the cause. The maximum thickness considered normal at any stage in pregnancy is often taken at 4 cm ref or 5 cm 10.
Differential diagnosis
The differential for an apparent increased in placental size on ultrasound includes:
retroplacental hematoma: especially when it is isoechoic, e.g. from a placental abruption
References
- 1. Lage JM. Placentomegaly with massive hydrops of placental stem villi, diploid DNA content, and fetal omphaloceles: possible association with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Hum. Pathol. 1991;22 (6): 591-7. - Pubmed citation
- 2. Cousins L, Benirschke K, Porreco R et-al. Placentomegaly due to fetal congestive failure in a pregnancy with a sacrococcygeal teratoma. J Reprod Med. 1980;25 (3): 142-4. - Pubmed citation
- 3. Nyberg DA, McGahan JP, Pretorius DH. Diagnostic imaging of fetal anomalies. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2003) ISBN:0781732115. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Kay H, Nelson DM, MD et-al. The Placenta, From Development to Disease. Wiley-Blackwell. (2011) ISBN:1444333666. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. H'mida D, Gribaa M, Yacoubi T et-al. Placental mesenchymal dysplasia with beckwith-wiedemann syndrome fetus in the context of biparental and androgenic cell lines. Placenta. 2008;29 (5): 454-60. doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2008.01.001 - Pubmed citation
- 6. Rodeck CH, Whittle MJ. Fetal medicine, basic science and clinical practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. (2008) ISBN:0443104085. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 7. Wladimiroff JW, Eik-Nes S. Ultrasound in obstetrics and gynaecology. Elsevier Science Health Science div. (2009) ISBN:0444518290. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 8. Drose JA, Dennis MA, Thickman D. Infection in utero: US findings in 19 cases. Radiology. 1991;178 (2): 369-74. Radiology (abstract) - Pubmed citation
- 9. Wolfgang Dähnert. Radiology Review Manual. (2020) ISBN: 9781609139438
- 10. Khairudin D, Alfirevic Z, Mone F, Navaratnam K. Non‐immune Hydrops Fetalis: A Practical Guide for Obstetricians. The Obstetric & Gynaecologis. 2023;25(2):110-20. doi:10.1111/tog.12862
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Fetal macrosomia
- Hydropic degeneration of the placenta
- Placental abruption
- Fetal parvovirus B19 infection
- Finnish type congenital nephrotic syndrome
- Obstetric curriculum
- In utero syphilis infection
- In utero infection
- Organomegaly
- Sonographic values in obstetrics and gynaecology
- Retroplacental haemorrhage
- Placental lake
- Hydrops fetalis
- Partial hydatidiform mole
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
- Triploidy
- Placental thickness
- Placental mesenchymal dysplasia
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