Septuplet placenta: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
On November 19, 1997, 7 liveborn infants (4 boys and 3 girls) were delivered by cesarean delivery at 30.5 weeks gestational age. The pregnancy was the result of artificial induction of ovulation.


METHODS
The septuplet placenta was evaluated with a standard and systematic procedure for placentas of multiple births that revealed a septamnionic, septchorionic architecture with 5 fused and 2 unfused placentas.


RESULTS
Each of the 7 umbilical cords contained 3 vessels. Two cords were velamentous; the remaining 5 cords were inserted eccentrically. The ratio of combined birth weights of the 7 infants to total placental weight (7.52:1) correlated with normograms of singleton and twin gestations.


CONCLUSIONS
This ratio and additional calculations were used for comparison and for additional clinicopathologic correlations.
Suvalsky
Steven D
SD
Department of Pathology, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, 50309, USA. suvalsky@glarnold.com
Benda
Jo Ann
JA
Hansen
Kathleen
K
Mahone
Paula R
PR
Drake
Karen
K
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007746:Labor Presentation; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple