Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine

Case Reports

Ectopic Umbilical Liver Associated with Intrauterine Fetal Death: An autopsy case.: Jai Hyang Go, Sang Ho Cho; Korean J Pathol. 1996;30(3):269-271.

Abstract PDF: Ectopic liver in the umbilicus is very rare, and a few cases have been reported in the world. It is thought that an increased intraabdominal pressure resulting in entrapment of liver cell nests causes the presence of liver in the umbilicus. It relates to neonatal problem such as infection. We report a case of ectopic umbilical liver in a stillborn male of 28 gestational weeks. His mother discovered loss of fetal movement 2 days before admission, and intrauterine fetal death was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Grossly, the umbilical cord was markedly swollen. On cut section, a well circumscribed, oval round, tan-colored soft mass was noted within the cord. Histologically, it consisted of hepatic cords without bile ducts. The umbilical vessels were distorted by the ectopic liver, and contained thrombi. These findings suggest that ectopic umbilical liver results in the intrauterine fetal death

Fetal Death Secondary to Constriction and Torsion of Umbilical Cord: An autopsy case.: Yeon Mee Kim, Je G Chi; Korean J Pathol. 1995;29(2):238-240.

Abstract PDF: Localized constriction and torsion of the umbilical cord are rare cord abnormalities. The seg- mental absence of Whartion's jelly in the involved area of the cord is believed to be an etiologic factor of the constriction and subsequent torsion. In the past, constriction and torsion were thought to occur after the death of the fetus as a result of maceration. However, recently it has been suggested that the torsion of the constricted area might cause fetal death. We report an autopsy case of a localized constriction and torsion of the umbilical cord in a stillborn baby. The baby was delivered to a 27-year-old primiparous woman after 28 weeks gestation. The fetus was of 24 gestational weeks in size and weight. And the placenta weight was 259 gm. A grossly macerated fetus showed a cystic hygroma in the posterior neck. There were two areas of constriction in the umbilical cord, one at the squamoamniotic junction and the other, 15 cm from the fetal end. Torsions were noted in both constricted areas, more severe than in the mid portion of the cord. Microscopically, the Whartion's jelly was deficient and partly replaced by fibrosis in the constricted areas. It is believed that these two areas of constrictions and torsion are causally related to the intrauterine fetal death in this case.

Postpartum Choriocarcinoma Preceded by Neonatal Anemia and Intrauterine Fetal Death: A case Report.: Kyu Rae Kim, Kyu Young Lee; Korean J Pathol. 1994;28(3):328-331.

Abstract: We report a case of postpartum choriocarcinoma from a 23-year old primiparous woman which was preceded by fetal anemia and intrauterine fetal death at 37 weeks' gestation. It has not been previously described in Korean literatures. The placenta, weighing 550 gm, contained multiple intervillous thrombi with laminated fibrin residue and pale cut curface. Histologic evidence of choriocarcinoma was not found in the placenta or in any fetal organs at autopsy, but large number of nucleated red blood cells and immature hemopoietic cells in the fetal capillaries of the placenta suggested the presence of fetal anemia. It was assumed that feto-maternal transfusion might had played a major role of fetal anemia and death.

Search