Ultrasonic diagnosis of placenta membranacea.

In this paper the first known case is presented in which an antepartum diagnosis of placenta membranacea was made by ultrasound. A multiparous woman is presented with intermittent painless vaginal bleeding in the second trimester of pregnancy. Ultrasonic examination at 20 weeks' gestation revealed a gestational sac almost completely covered with placental tissue. At 26 weeks the patient delivered a dead, growth retarded and an almost complete placenta membranacea.