title: Hysterectomy for placenta accreta; methods for gross and microscopic pathology examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placenta accreta is an abnormal adherence of the placenta to the uterine wall. As the incidence of placenta accreta continues to rise, it has been useful to develop standard protocols for the diagnosis and management of affected patients. Pathologists have the opportunity to take an active role in evaluating these resource intensive protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe methods of gross dissection, microscopic examination and reporting of hysterectomy specimens containing placenta accreta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This protocol facilitates retrospective correlation with surgical and radiographic findings as well as standardized tissue sampling for potential research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through regular review of such quality measures pathologists can give feedback on the quality of surgical planning and use of imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Katelyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dannheim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.|New England Center for Placental Disorders, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shainker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. jlhecht@bidmc.harvard.edu.|New England Center for Placental Disorders, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA. jlhecht@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hecht
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010921:Placenta Accreta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: Gross description; Increta; Pathology evaluation; Percreta; Placenta accreta