title: Placenta percreta: methotrexate treatment and MRI findings.
abstract: Our patient was a 24-year-old gravida 2 para 0 woman. After delivery, placenta percreta was noticed. There was no postpartum hemorrhage, and the patient desired future pregnancies. Although placenta percreta is rare, its sequelae include potentially lethal hemorrhage and loss of reproduction function. Placenta percreta was confirmed histologically and with ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Placenta percreta was treated conservatively with methotrexate. On follow-up, MRI showed a small calcified transmural extension of the placenta throughout the uterus in the right fundal area. Color Doppler ultrasonography showed no blood flow in the corresponding area, and maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was undetectable. Use of MRI is a new method to detect abnormal placentation, and it could be used on follow-up in selective cases with other follow-up modalities. However, it seems likely that conservative management to preserve future fertility remains a secured and reasonable alternative when a patient has no active bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Nonna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heiskanen
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.forename: Sakari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kainulainen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinonen
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology; D010921:Placenta Accreta / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D008727:Methotrexate