Validity of Ultrasound in diagnosis of Abnormal Placental Adherence at Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Objective: To assess the value of ultrasound in diagnosis of abnormal adherent placenta in third trimester of pregnancy, which causes a life threatening maternal hemorrhage. Methods: A retrospective cohort observational study of (68 ) patients in Ob/Gyn Department within five years, from the first of January 2009 to the last of December 2014 during their cesarean section found to be placenta accreta, increta, or perc reta at 28 weeks and above , and to compare the finding with their finding of ultrasound antenatally, and the histopathology after surgery. Results: The surgery findings revealed that 49(72.1%) of the women had adherent placenta, 58(85.3%) had abnormal placentation by ultrasound , whereas only 10(14.7%) normal. 36(52.9%) confirmed by histopathology exam (15 acreta, 15 accreta increta, and 6 acreta precreta).The ultrasound findings revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 53.8%, sensitivity of 88.9%, and specificity of only 18.8% while gave unsatisfactory agreement (55.9%) with histopathology exam, ultrasound failed to detect normal findings in 26 cases. Conclusion: The ultrasound examination is available, cheap, and easy to use, but it is not specifically reliable in diagnosis of abnormal adherent placenta in third trimester of pregnancy.