title: Sonographic diagnosis of chronic abruption.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  placental abruption is usually an acute event in which clinical decision-making overrides the need for ultrasound imaging. By contrast, chronic abruption may present with vague or even confusing clinical findings. We describe a case in which the diagnosis of chronic abruption was established by ultrasound and the findings directly influenced clinical care.
  
  
  METHODS
  a 30-year-old woman with asymptomatic preeclampsia was evaluated in our fetal medicine unit at 30 weeks' gestation. Despite normal fetal monitoring, a large, retroplacental sonolucent area was noted on ultrasound. A planned Caesarean section was performed two days later, despite normal daily fetal monitoring, because the mass had increased in size. Placental pathology confirmed the diagnosis of chronic abruption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ultrasound may establish the diagnosis of a large chronic placental abruption that is relevant for clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kingdom
mesh_terms: D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography