Placenta accreta spectrum includes abnormal placental attachment to the myometrium; which terms describe the spectrum?

Placenta accreta spectrum includes abnormal placental attachment to the myometrium; which terms describe the spectrum?

• A. Accreta, increta, percreta.
• B. Placenta previa, placental abruption.
• C. Ectopic, tubal pregnancy.
• D. Amnionitis, chorioamnionitis.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the depth of placental invasion into the uterine wall. In the placenta accreta spectrum, the three terms describe progressively deeper invasion: accreta means the placenta attaches to the myometrium with loss of the decidual layer but does not invade into the muscle; increta means invasion into the myometrium; and percreta means invasion through the myometrium, potentially reaching the serosa or adjacent organs. This depth-based spectrum is what guides risk assessment and management, since deeper invasion often leads to heavier bleeding and may necessitate cesarean hysterectomy. The other conditions listed are not part of this spectrum: placenta previa is about placental placement over the cervix, placental abruption is premature separation of the placenta, ectopic/tubal pregnancies are implantation outside the uterus, and amnionitis/chorioamnionitis are infections.

The key idea is the depth of placental invasion into the uterine wall. In the placenta accreta spectrum, the three terms describe progressively deeper invasion: accreta means the placenta attaches to the myometrium with loss of the decidual layer but does not invade into the muscle; increta means invasion into the myometrium; and percreta means invasion through the myometrium, potentially reaching the serosa or adjacent organs. This depth-based spectrum is what guides risk assessment and management, since deeper invasion often leads to heavier bleeding and may necessitate cesarean hysterectomy. The other conditions listed are not part of this spectrum: placenta previa is about placental placement over the cervix, placental abruption is premature separation of the placenta, ectopic/tubal pregnancies are implantation outside the uterus, and amnionitis/chorioamnionitis are infections.