ABSTRACT
Placentas are submitted to the pathology laboratory for three categories of reasons; fetal, maternal, and placental. The purpose is to evaluate for current fetal or maternal disease, to provide prognosis for the current pregnancy and future pregnancies, to evaluate the effect of maternal disease on the pregnancy, and for legal considerations. Placentas should all be examined in the delivery room. Major indications for submission of placentas to pathology are listed in Table 5 in the previous chapter2. This list is not allinclusive, and any clinical concern should lead to more intensive placental evaluation.
