Pathologic diagnosis on 2,681 abortions at the Chicago Lying-in Hospital, 1957-1965.

Abstract

At the Chicago Lying-in Hospital from 1957 to 1965, 10.8% or 2,681 of 24,753 pregnancies were terminated as abortions. Specimens observed by the physician and received in the pathology laboratory were diagnosed as: decidua only, 509; fetus and placenta, 755; Intact chorionic vesicle without an embryo, 78; placenta or chorionic vesicle with membranes ruptured and without a fetus, 1,109; tubal pregnancies 145, hydatidiform moles 15, and therapeutic abortions, 70. Among the intrauterine pregnancies a nodular or grossly maldeveloped embryo was found in 53; a malformed fetus was found in 23. Most abortions show an abnormal state of the villl but pathologic changes are difficult to distinguish from those secondary to fetal death.