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Abstract
Placenta previa is a common grave complication of late pregnancy, usually manifestated clinically by painless antenatal vaginal bleeding. Digital and rectal examinations are dangerous, due to the possibility that profuse hemorrhage from the vagina may result. Various radiological examinations have been performed in placenta previa for diagnosis and localization. However radioisotopic methods are superior due to safety, simplicity and a lower radiation dose, both fetal and maternal, compared to plain radiography. Among radiopharmaceuticals, In113m (transferrin for blood pool scan) is useful, giving more satisfactory results without any complications or untoward reactions.
In our series of 88 cases from March 1971 to April 1975, In113m placental scan was performed and analysed in 62 cases which were confirmed by clinical follow up and the results are as follows:
1) Maternal age pattern. Mothers 31~35 years were 20/62 or 30.6%.
2) Maternal gravida pattern. All were multipara except 8 cases of primipara.
3) Gestational maturity on scan. 40/62 or 64% were before 36weeks or less in maturity.
4) On scan analysis Placenta previa was confirmed in 36/62 cases or 58%.
5) Fetal maturity. On delivery most were full term, 42/62 or 67.7%.
6) Vaginal delivery was done on cases where placenta was localized in the upper uterine segment, except for three who had fetal malpresentation and congenital anomaly of the maternal pelvis.
All patients of placenta previa had cesarian section, except 5 cases with a minor degree of placenta previa.
7) Two cases showed false negative, which suggests 97% accuracy in the screening test of placenta previa by scan, wich is a similar result to other reports.
Only 4 cases of false positive discrepancy were noted.
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