[MRI evaluation of placenta accreta treated by embolization. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature]

Abstract

Placenta accreta results from an abnormal attachment of the placenta to the uterine myometrium. The reported incidence in literature is variable, with an average of 1/7000 pregnancies. This condition is associated with a significant risk of bleeding at the time of delivery, usually requiring hysterectomy. Sonography associated with color Doppler is useful for diagnosis, but MRI can be used successfully to evaluate the degree of placental tissue invading into the myometrium, the serosa, and for follow-up after conservative management. To our knowledge, only two cases of placenta accreta evaluated with MR and six cases of placenta accreta treated by embolization have been reported in the literature. The authors report one case of placenta accreta treated successfully by embolization, and followed-up by MRI.