ABSTRACT
In 1892, Ballantyne wrote: “A diseased foetus without his placenta is an imperfect specimen, and a description of a foetal malady, unless accompanied by a notice of the placental condition, is incomplete. Deductions drawn from such a case cannot be considered as conclusive, for in the missing placenta or cord may have existed the cause of the disease and death. During intrauterine life the foetus, the membranes, the cord and the placenta form an organic whole, and disease of any part must react upon and affect the others.” 1 Indeed, a careful examination of the placenta contributes to the determination of the causes underlying fetal growth abnormalities, demise, or neonatal conditions. The correlation between placental histopathology and clinical data may augment our understanding of the sequence of pathologic events and enhance the management of the neonate or future pregnancies.
