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Diagnostics
Special Issues
Current Concepts in Fetal and Placental Pathology
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Current Concepts in Fetal and Placental Pathology

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 3004

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Simion Cotoi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1.Department of Pathology, County Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures, 540072 Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of Pathophysiology, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
Interests: dermatopathology; lung pathology; gynecopathology; cardiac transplant; STEM cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Diana-Maria Chiorean

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
1.Department of Pathology, County Clinical Hospital of Targu Mures, 540072 Targu Mures, Romania
2. Department of Pathophysiology, “George Emil Palade” University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
Interests: fetal and placental pathology; gyneco-pathology; general pathology; pediatric and perinatal pathology; cytopathology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fetal and placental pathology plays a crucial role in understanding adverse pregnancy outcomes and guiding perinatal care. As a temporary but essential organ, the placenta provides a unique window into the health of both the mother and the fetus. Recent advances in histopathological techniques, molecular biology, and imaging have significantly improved our understanding of placental development and fetal disease mechanisms. However, many aspects of placental and fetal pathology remain underexplored, especially in relation to long-term neonatal outcomes and maternal health.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current research in fetal and placental pathology, with a particular focus on integrating morphological, molecular, and clinical data. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, we seek to highlight novel diagnostic markers, pathophysiological mechanisms, and therapeutic perspectives. This initiative falls within the scope of the journal by promoting cutting-edge research in pathology with direct implications for clinical practice, obstetrics, and neonatology.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, and case reports are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Histopathological evaluation of the placenta and fetal organs;
  • Inflammatory and vascular disorders of the placenta;
  • Infections in pregnancy and transplacental transmission;
  • Molecular and genetic aspects of placental development;
  • Correlations between placental lesions and perinatal outcomes;
  • Pathology of pregnancy complications (e.g., preeclampsia, IUGR, stillbirth);
  • Advances in perinatal autopsy protocols;
  • Rare or illustrative fetal and placental pathology case reports.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Simion Cotoi
Guest Editor

Dr. Diana-Maria Chiorean
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fetal pathology
  • placental pathology
  • perinatal outcomes
  • perinatal autopsy
  • maternal-fetal interface
  • intrauterine growth restriction
  • preeclampsia
  • stillbirth
  • villitis
  • chorioamnionitis
  • histopathology
  • molecular pathology
  • case reports

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2575 KB  
Article
Histopathological Characteristics of Placenta in Pregnancies Complicated by Intrauterine Growth Restriction—A Pilot Study
by Liviu Moraru, Raluca Moraru, Diana Maria Chiorean, Septimiu Voidăzan, Lorena Solovăstru and Melinda-Ildiko Mitranovici
Diagnostics 2026, 16(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16010060 - 24 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 636
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition in which a fetus does not reach its normal growth potential and is associated with increased neonatal morbidity. Surveillance relies on cardiotocography, a biophysical ultrasound, and a Doppler assessment, but placental pathology remains insufficiently [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition in which a fetus does not reach its normal growth potential and is associated with increased neonatal morbidity. Surveillance relies on cardiotocography, a biophysical ultrasound, and a Doppler assessment, but placental pathology remains insufficiently integrated into clinical evaluations. This study aimed to compare placentas from IUGR and normal pregnancies. Methods: This cohort included 34 pregnancies (16 IUGR, 18 controls) managed at Hunedoara County Hospital (Romania). The ultrasound and Doppler parameters were documented. The placentas were collected after delivery, fixed in formalin, and processed using standard histopathological protocols. The villous morphology and maternal vascular malperfusion features were assessed on H&E sections, focusing on syncytial knots, villous caliber reduction, stromal fibrosis, fibrin deposition, and infarctions. Immunohistochemistry for CD34, cytokeratin 7 (CK7), CD68, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Hypoxian inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α)was performed using a semi-quantitative 0–3 scoring system. A statistical analysis was performed using chi-squared testing for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Results: The ultrasound evaluation showed an estimated fetal weight below the 10th percentile and abnormal Doppler indices in the IUGR group. The histopathology demonstrated a strong association between IUGR and villous abnormalities, including an increased number of syncytial knots, stromal fibrosis, a reduced villous caliber, and placental infarctions. The immunohistochemistry showed a marked overexpression of VEGF and HIF-1α and increased CD68-positive Hofbauer cells in IUGR placentas (p < 0.0001), while CD34 and CK7 displayed preserved strong staining in both groups. Conclusions: Placentas from IUGR pregnancies exhibited advanced maternal vascular malperfusion with consistent hypoxic and inflammatory changes, correlating with Doppler alterations. These findings highlight the diagnostic relevance of placental pathology in pregnancies with IUGR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Concepts in Fetal and Placental Pathology)
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Review

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15 pages, 716 KB  
Review
Placenta Accreta Spectrum: Diagnostic Challenges and Management Strategies
by Zlatko Kirovakov, Angel Yordanov and Eva Tsoneva
Diagnostics 2026, 16(5), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16050760 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 302
Abstract
This narrative review presents an updated overview of the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS), with emphasis on clinical implications and current gaps in evidence. PAS is associated with substantial maternal morbidity and mortality, with reported maternal [...] Read more.
This narrative review presents an updated overview of the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS), with emphasis on clinical implications and current gaps in evidence. PAS is associated with substantial maternal morbidity and mortality, with reported maternal mortality rates approaching 7%. Affected patients often experience prolonged hospitalization, repeated surgical interventions, and long-term psychological and emotional consequences. The development of PAS is primarily attributed to impaired decidualization in areas of uterine scarring, resulting in abnormal adherence or invasion of chorionic villi into the myometrium. Optimal outcomes in high-risk pregnancies depend on early antenatal identification using characteristic pathological and imaging findings. Current evidence supports planned cesarean hysterectomy as the safest and most definitive treatment for most patients, whereas conservative and uterus-preserving approaches should be reserved for carefully selected cases managed in specialized centers. Further progress in PAS management requires standardized diagnostic criteria, prospective evaluation of conservative strategies, and improved access to multidisciplinary expertise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Concepts in Fetal and Placental Pathology)
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