Presentation
Antepartum hemorrhage at 26 weeks. Otherwise normal pregnancy to date.
Patient Data
heterogeneous focus along the anterior endometrium, adjacent to the inferior margin of the placenta, consistent with a succenturiate lobe. The hypoechoic areas within the succenturiate lobe are favored to represent retroplacental hemorrhage given the clinical history
no vasa previa is demonstrated
remaining placenta is unremarkable
Case Discussion
This case demonstrates ultrasound findings consistent with a succenturiate lobe of placenta (multilobed placenta), which confers an increased risk of vasa previa, placenta previa, antepartum hemorrhage, post partum hemorrhage and retained placenta (and therefore post partum infection) 1.
The succenturiate lobe was confirmed at the time of delivery, which was uncomplicated.