Although the ability of sonography to accurately diagnosis circumvallate placenta during pregnancy is quite limited, research studies continue to emerge at the possibility of doing so. Treatment/Management
Although there is no cure or specific treatment for restoration of the circumvallate placenta, there are ways to decrease the risks of possible complications prior to birth or attempt to manage complications if they develop. If circumvallate placenta is diagnosed during pregnancy, physicians may offer recommendations to reduce the risks of associated complications such as lower birth weight and placental abruption.Decreased birth weight is a major concern associated with circumvallate placenta. Infants born with birth weights that are lower than expected per their gestational age oftentimes end up requiring extra support in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). To assist in the monitoring of appropriate fetal growth, a physician may recommend more frequent growth checks during pregnancy if circumvallate placenta is suspected. If a fetus is not growing satisfactorily, premature delivery, via vaginal delivery or caesarean section, may be recommended, with C-section being more favorable compared to vaginal delivery.In women experiencing a placental abruption associated with circumvallate placenta, physicians will normally advocate for frequent growth checks, hospital bed rest, early delivery, and, if necessary, emergency C-section.
Circumvallate placenta is a rare condition affecting about 1-2% of pregnancies, in which the amnion and chorion fetal membranes essentially "double back" on the fetal side around the edges of the placenta. After delivery, a circumvallate placenta has a thick ring of membranes on its fetal surface. Circumvallate placenta is a placental morphological abnormality associated with increased fetal morbidity and mortality due to the restricted availability of nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus. Physicians may be able to detect a circumvallate placenta during pregnancy by using an ultrasound. However, in other cases, a circumvallate placenta is not identified until delivery of the baby. Circumvallate placenta can increase the risk of associated complications such as preterm delivery and placental abruption. Occasionally, a circumvallate placenta can also increase the risk of neonatal death and emergency caesarean section. Although there is no existing treatment for circumvallate placenta, physicians can attempt to minimize the effects of complications, if they occur, through frequent fetal monitoring and, if necessary, emergency cesarean section.In a circumvallate placenta, the chorionic plate, which forms the fetal surface of the placenta, tends to be smaller than the basal plate, which forms the maternal surface of the placenta. This results in the elevation of the placental margin and the appearance of an annular shape. The fetal surface is divided into a central depressed zone surrounded by a thickened white ring which is incomplete. The ring is situated at varying distances from the margin, or edges, of the placenta.