Clinical syndromes with variable pathologic features

Frequently, placentas sent for pathologic examination include a clinical diagnosis that does not suggest a specific placental lesion. Pathologists who do not have great experience in this field may need some assistance with selecting the pertinent placental lesions to look for. This brief outline is included to define these conditions and present a list of the specific placental lesions that deserve consideration. The placental examination should be directed with the goal of identifying or noting and recording specifically the presence or absence of the relevant pathologic lesions. The syndromes or conditions considered in this context include neonatal encephalopathy, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, maternal diabetes mellitus, thrombophilias, HELLP syndrome, and fetal hydrops.