Imaging of the placenta in placental adhesive disorder

Placental adhesive disorder (PAD) has also been called morbidly adherent placenta, placental invasion and placenta percreta. It occurs when there is a defect in the decidua basilis of the uterus resulting in chorionic villi invading the myometrium. There are three levels of adherence or invasion termed accreta, increta and percreta. Placenta accreta is defined as attachment of chorionic villi to the myometrium, while in placenta increta chorionic villi partially invade the myometrium. In the most severe form (percreta) chorionic villi penetrate through the full thickness of the myometrium and invade into the surrounding tissues. They may extend beyond the serosoa into surrounding tissues, most frequently the bladder, but also the bowel.

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