The incidence of placental attachment disorders continues to increase with rising caesarean section rates. Antenatal diagnosis helps in the planning of location, timing and staffing of delivery. In at-risk women grey-scale ultrasound is quite sensitive, although colour ultrasound is the most predictive. Magnetic resonance imaging can add information in some limited instances. Patients who have had a previous caesarean section could benefit from early (before 10 weeks) visualisation of the implantation site. Current data refer only to placentas implanted in the lower anterior uterine segment, usually over a caesarean section scar.
Keywords: Caesarean hysterectomy; caesarean section; colour Doppler ultrasound; magnetic resonance imaging; placenta; placenta accreta; placenta increta; placenta percreta; scar pregnancy; three-dimensional colour Doppler ultrasound; ultrasound.
© 2013 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.