title: Placental biopsy by frozen section: does it have a role in evaluation of fetal well-being?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of post-partum placental biopsy and frozen section evaluation in diagnosing pregnancy disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January and July 1998, biopsies were carried out on 100 newly delivered placentas. Biopsies were carried out using a 14-gauge needle, and frozen section evaluations were reviewed. These were compared to the standard evaluation of histological evaluation of the whole placenta sections. Specimens were evaluated by standard placental pathologic criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Villous oedema which is associated with antenatal hypoxia was observed with a sensitivity of 78%, and specificity of 97%, yielding a positive predictive value of 84% in frozen section compared to standard placental evaluation. No statistical difference was observed in the evaluation of dysmaturity, intravillous fibrin agglutination and chronic villitis between frozen sectioning and whole placenta sections. Increased syncytial knots were detected with a sensitivity of 45% and specificity of 98%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placental biopsy by frozen sectioning might be a useful and quick method of evaluation for placental pathology. Theoretically, fetal status could be more precisely evaluated by combining prenatal placental biopsy by permanent section with conservative ante-partum well-being tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Akdeniz University, Arapsuyu, Antalya, Turkey. imendilcioglu@akdeniz.edu.tr
authors.forename: Inanc
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendilcioglu
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kilicarslan
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gurkan Zorlu
authors.forename: Seyda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaveli
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uner
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity