Purpose: Diagnosing the placenta accreta spectrum is crucial to prevent morbidities and mortalities among women with the suspicion of this pathology. We aim to evaluate novel ultrasonography markers for these patients in diagnosing and predicting prognosis.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a referral academic hospital. The population was composed of 51 pregnant women with a suspect of placenta accreta spectrum who had scheduled C-sections. Their primary information and past medical histories were documented. Then the ultrasonography markers, including the most bulging volume behind the bladder (area, perimeter, and volume), the Lacune (diameter, length, number, and surface of the largest lacuna obtained by multiplying the length by the width), the most considerable thickness of placenta on the cervix in patients with placenta previa, the most considerable thickness of the placenta behind the bladder, the Jellyfish sign, and sponge cervix were evaluated. Their comparison to the severity of the bleeding, the rate of the hysterectomy, and the following pathology of the placenta accreta spectrum were analyzed.
Results: The results showed that 17 (33.3%) of patients had severe bleeding (more than 2500 cc). The diameter, length, and surface of the largest lacunae limited to women with severe bleeding were 13.50 (5.5-21) mm, 20.50 (11-56) mm, 273.00 (60-1176) mm2, and they were 11.00 (5-24) mm, 16.25 (10-39) mm, and 176.25 (50-744) mm2 for women without severe bleeding (P value = 0.039, 0.027, 0.021). 13 (76.5%) women with severe bleeding had Jellyfish signs,16 (94.2%) had bulging on the cervix, and 10(58.8%) had a sponge cervix (P value = 0.046, 0.036, 0.006). Also, 34 (66.66%) patients needed hysterectomy. The diameter, length, and surface of the largest lacunae limited to women with hysterectomy were 12.00 (5-24) mm, 18.00 (11-56) mm, 231.00 (60-1176) mm2, and they were 9.00 (5-18) mm, 15.00 (10-28) mm, and 136.00(50-504) mm2 for women without hysterectomy (P value = 0.012, 0.070, 0.021). 24(70.6%) women with hysterectomy had Jellyfish signs, 29 (85.3%) of them had bulging on the cervix, and 15 (44.1%) had sponge cervix (P value = 0.05, 0.036, 0.028). The cut-off associated with the Lacunar surface was 163.5 mm2. Its sensitivity was 80%, and its specificity was 48% (P value = 0.021).
Conclusion: The presence of single large lacunae could be a suitable predictive factor for bleeding in the placenta accreta spectrum; Moreover, there are some other US criteria, including the presence of a sponge cervix or the Jellyfish sign that are valuable predictive factors for negative outcomes for this spectrum, including hysterectomy.
Keywords: Hemorrhage; Hysterectomy; Jellyfish sign; Lacunae; PAS; Placenta accreta spectrum; Ultrasonography.
© 2024. Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB).