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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Succenturiate placenta is a rare anatomical variant characterized by one or more accessory lobes connected to the main placental mass by fetal vessels. While frequently asymptomatic, this condition can lead to serious maternal–fetal complications if not diagnosed prenatally. Early detection through advanced ultrasonographic techniques plays a critical role in guiding obstetric management and reducing adverse outcomes. Objective: To describe and analyze the prenatal diagnosis, sonographic characteristics, clinical management, and maternal–fetal outcomes of succenturiate placenta cases diagnosed over a ten-year period at a tertiary care center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of nine pregnancies diagnosed with succenturiate placenta between 2014 and 2024. Data collected included maternal demographics, ultrasound findings, type of cord insertion, presence of associated anomalies such as velamentous cord insertion or vasa previa, vaginal or cesarean delivery, complications, and neonatal outcomes. Ultrasound evaluation was scored based on a four-point checklist assessing key diagnostic steps. Results: Five of the nine cases (55.6%) presented isolated succenturiate placenta, while four (44.4%) were associated with velamentous cord insertion. No cases of vasa previa were identified. Obstetric outcomes included three vaginal deliveries (33.3%), two instrumental (22.2%), and four cesarean sections (44.4%), one of which was emergent due to fetal distress. Complications occurred in 44.4% of cases, with intrapartum bradycardia being the most common. One neonatal death was reported due to placental abruption. The quality of the ultrasound diagnosis was high in most cases, though transvaginal scanning was inconsistently applied. Conclusions: Prenatal identification of succenturiate placenta via detailed ultrasound, including color Doppler and targeted assessment of cord insertion, is essential to minimize risks associated with this condition. Standardized diagnostic protocols can improve detection rates and enable timely clinical decisions, ultimately improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Details

Title
Diagnostic Challenges and Perinatal Outcomes: A Case Series on a Retrospective Study
Author
Moral-Moral, Carmen Maria 1 ; Porras-Caballero, Lorena 1 ; Blasco-Alonso, Marta 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Cuenca-Marín, Celia 2 ; Monis-Rodriguez, Susana 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Gonzalez-Mesa, Ernesto 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Narbona-Arias Isidoro 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Jimenez-Lopez, Jesus S 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Materno-Infantil, Hospital Regional Universitario Málaga, Avenue Arroyo de los Ángeles S/N, 29011 Málaga, Spain; [email protected] (C.M.M.-M.); [email protected] (L.P.-C.); [email protected] (C.C.-M.); [email protected] (S.M.-R.); [email protected] (E.G.-M.); [email protected] (I.N.-A.); [email protected] (J.S.J.-L.) 
 Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Materno-Infantil, Hospital Regional Universitario Málaga, Avenue Arroyo de los Ángeles S/N, 29011 Málaga, Spain; [email protected] (C.M.M.-M.); [email protected] (L.P.-C.); [email protected] (C.C.-M.); [email protected] (S.M.-R.); [email protected] (E.G.-M.); [email protected] (I.N.-A.); [email protected] (J.S.J.-L.), Department of Surgical Specialties, University of Malaga, 29010 Málaga, Spain, Research Group in Maternal-Fetal Medicine Epigenetics Women’s Diseases and Reproductive Health, Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), 29071 Málaga, Spain 
First page
1329
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20754418
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3217724706
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.