title: Vascular anastomoses in dichorionic diamniotic-fused placentas.
abstract: A case of fetal twin-to-twin cytomegalovirus infection through a dichorionic diamniotic (DiDi)-fused placenta prompted our search for possible vascular anastomoses in this type of placenta. This case and three additional DiDi-fused placentas were studied with gross (macro) sections and a three-dimensional (3D) stereomicroscopic technique. Two twins were dizygotic (they differed in gender and blood groups) and the other two were probably monozygotic. Macrosections and 3D-image analysis demonstrated side-to-side connections between small subchorionic vessels. These findings demonstrate that vascular anastomoses are present in DiDi-fused placentas.
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000473:pathology; D001163:Arteriovenous Anastomosis; D002823:Chorion / Q000473:pathology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic