Placental infarction probably associated with late term premature delivery

Here the histopathology findings of placental infarction associated with late preterm birth are reported. The subject was a male neonate delivered at 34 weeks and 5 days of gestation with a birth weight of ∼2500 g. His mother had been diagnosed with a threatened premature birth at 27 weeks of pregnancy. The size and weight of the placenta was considered appropriate for gestational age. On the cut surface of the placenta, a white-colored focal infarct was noted beneath the site of the umbilical cord insertion. There were small focal infarcts scattered within the marginal area. There were no particular vascular abnormalities or apparent thrombi. The placental villi were of appropriate maturity for the gestational age and the villous vessels showed no structural abnormalities. This case highlights the benefits of examining the histopathology of postpartum placentas for preterm children to explore their significance in premature birth.