title: MRI of placental polyps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placental polyp is intrauterine polypoid placental tissue retained after delivery or abortion and may cause life-threatening bleeding. We studied the value of MRI in diagnosing placental polyps.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two women, 26 and 32 years old, with histologically proven placental polyp were included in this study. These patients were treated with local injections of methotrexate or transcatheter arterial embolization. The MR images before and after these treatments were studied retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High intensity pedunculated masses of 3-4 cm in size were observed in the expanded uterine cavity on T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted SE images. Bloody contents were observed around the masses. Placental polyps were more intensely enhanced than the myometrium by the contrast media, and the enhanced T1-weighted images indicated the retained placental tissues with an adherent part to the myometrium. Magnetic resonance imaging was also useful in following up the reduction in the size of the lesions and in the blood flow after the treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in diagnosing and following up placental polyps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurachi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*