Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare pregnancy outcome and pathologic findings in cases of placental lake visualized on sonography in pregnancies without concurrent fetal or maternal disease.
Methods: Placental aspect was evaluated sonographically in 4,106 singleton pregnancies without maternal or fetal disease at between 15 and 34 weeks3 gestation. Fifty-nine cases presenting with placental lakes were followed through the end of pregnancy. Obstetric outcome was compared with that of cases with sonographically normal placental aspects (n=37). Macroscopic and microscopic examinations for pathology were also performed in a few cases in both groups.
Results: Placental lakes were present in 2.2% (92/4,106) of the cases. No statistically significant difference was observed in birth weight, gestational age at delivery, adverse obstetric outcome, and macroscopic or microscopic results between the control and study groups.
Conclusion: Our findings do not seem to indicate an increase in the risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome in cases presenting with placental lakes.