Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Accurate and Simple Evaluation of Vascular Anastomoses in Monochorionic Placenta using Colored Dye
Published on: September 5, 2011
Placenta percreta and uterine rupture associated with prior whole body radiation therapy
E R Norwitz1, H M Stern, H Grier
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. enorwitz@partners.org
Background:
Injury to reproductive organs including the uterus is a known complication of ionizing radiation, but the risks to the mother and fetus during subsequent pregnancies are not well defined.
Case:
A young woman with a remote history of whole body irradiation for childhood leukemia had uterine rupture at 17 weeks' gestation. Pathologic examination of the supracervical hysterectomy specimen revealed a posterior-fundal placenta percreta with a diffusely thinned myometrium (1-6 mm). The clinicopathologic findings were consistent with prior radiation injury.
Conclusion:
Uterine irradiation may predispose to abnormal placentation and uterine rupture in a subsequent pregnancy.
