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Placenta Accreta

Kidney, Urology and Women's Health · NLM MeSH · updated 2026-11-04 · version 1

Citations verified against PubMedNot yet clinician-reviewed10 referencesApproximately 5 min read

Abnormal placentation in which all or parts of the placenta are attached directly to the myometrium due to a complete or partial absence of decidua.

Table of Contents

1. Definition2. Research landscape3. Reading the evidence4. Open-access studies5. Key reviews6. References7. About this article

Definition and research guide

This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.

Content available: 4 complete abstracts (1,018 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.

Definition

Abnormal placentation in which all or parts of the placenta are attached directly to the myometrium due to a complete or partial absence of decidua. It is associated with postpartum hemorrhage because of the failure of placental separation.

Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.

Also known as: Accreta, Placenta; Placenta Percreta; Percreta, Placenta; Placenta Increta; Increta, Placenta; Placenta Accreta Spectrum; Accreta Spectrum, Placenta; Morbidly Adherent Placenta.

Where it fits in the MeSH classification

Broader topics
Obstetric Labor Complications; Placenta Diseases

Related concepts

  • Placenta
  • Myometrium
  • Decidua
  • Postpartum Hemorrhage

Research landscape

PubMed indexes 3,631 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Placenta Accreta” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 1,462 of them (40.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 1,462 records.

Reviews account for 454 records (12.5%) and meta-analyses for 73. Randomized controlled trials number 13 (0.4%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.

PubMed records by publication periodthrough 1999: 580 records; 2000-2009: 407 records; 2010-2019: 1,182 records; 2020 onward: 1,462 records580through 19994072000-20091,1822010-20191,4622020 onward
Records in PubMed indexed with this heading, by publication period. Real counts from NCBI E-utilities; the final period covers only part of the current year. Volume reflects how much has been published, not how strong the evidence is.
Show the data
PeriodRecords
through 1999580
2000-2009407
2010-20191,182
2020 onward1,462
Share of records by publication typeReviews: 12.5 percent; Meta-analyses: 2.0 percent; Randomized controlled trials: 0.4 percentReviews12.5% (454)Meta-analyses2.0% (73)Randomized controlled trials0.4% (13)
Share of all PubMed records on this heading that carry each publication type. Types overlap with other records, so the shares do not sum to 100%.
Publication-type chart data
Publication types among 3,631 PubMed records
TypeRecordsShare
Reviews45412.5%
Meta-analyses732.0%
Randomized controlled trials130.4%

Method: PubMed query "Placenta Accreta"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.

Reading the evidence in kidney, urology and women's health

Kidney, urinary and reproductive health research uses lab markers (such as creatinine), imaging, symptom scores and registry data on pregnancy and birth. Findings about pregnancy are especially sensitive to who was studied and when in pregnancy exposure occurred. Nothing on this page is advice about treatment, fertility or pregnancy; speak to a qualified clinician. Check the population, the outcome measured and whether the study accounted for other health differences between groups.

Evidence from open-access studies

These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.

Study comparison — selected abstracts, not a systematic review
Study / authorsYearSource label / designEurope PMC citationsLicence / source
Antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Matsuzaki S, Nagase Y, Takiuchi T, Kakigano A, Mimura K, Lee M, et al.
2021Meta-analysis
Design not recorded in structured metadata
54cc by
PMID 33911134 · DOI · PMC8080594
Circulating trophoblast cell clusters for early detection of placenta accreta spectrum disorders
Afshar Y, Dong J, Zhao P, Li L, Wang S, Zhang RY, et al.
2021Research article
Design not recorded in structured metadata
34cc by
PMID 34344888 · DOI · PMC8333096
Association of Placenta Previa With Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Patients With Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder
Han X, Guo Z, Yang X, Yang H, Ma J
2022Research article
Design not recorded in structured metadata
34cc by
PMID 35994286 · DOI · PMC9396360
Intraoperative Transvaginal Ultrasonographic Evaluation for Placenta Accreta Spectrum in Placenta Previa: A Retrospective Observational Study
Mitoma T, Sakata S, Suemori A, Ooba H, Hayata K, Maki J
2026Research article
Design not recorded in structured metadata
1cc by
PMID 42244252 · DOI · PMC13238295

Antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis [1]

Meta-analysis Matsuzaki S, Nagase Y, Takiuchi T, Kakigano A, Mimura K, Lee M, et al. · · 2021 · cited 54 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
Increasing evidence suggests a relationship between in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).
Closing excerpt
Therefore, clinicians can pay more attention to the presence of PAS during antenatal evaluation in women with IVF-ET, especially in frozen ET with hormone replacement cycle.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (302 words)

Increasing evidence suggests a relationship between in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). Some studies have reported a lower rate of antenatal diagnosis of PAS after IVF-ET compared to PAS with spontaneous conception. This study aimed to review the diagnostic accuracy of PAS after IVF-ET and to explore the relationship between IVF-ET pregnancy and PAS. According to the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive systematic review of the literature was conducted through August 31, 2020 to determine the effects of IVF-ET on PAS. In addition, a meta-analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between IVF-ET pregnancy and PAS. Twelve original studies (2011-2020) met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 190,139 IVF-ET pregnancies and 248,534 spontaneous conceptions met the inclusion criteria. In the comparator analysis between PAS after IVF-ET and PAS with spontaneous conception (n = 2), the antenatal diagnosis of PAS after IVF-ET was significantly lower than that of PAS with spontaneous conception (22.2% versus 94.7%, P < 0.01; < 12.9% versus 46.9%, P < 0.01). The risk of PAS was significantly higher in women who conceived with IVF-ET than in those with spontaneous conception (odds ratio [OR]: 5.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.34-7.56, P < 0.01). In the sensitivity analysis accounting for the type of IVF-ET, frozen ET was associated with an increased risk of PAS (OR: 4.60, 95%CI: 3.42-6.18, P < 0.01) compared to fresh ET. Notably, frozen ET with hormone replacement cycle was significantly associated with the prevalence of PAS compared to frozen ET with normal ovulatory cycle (OR: 5.76, 95%CI 3.12-10.64, P < 0.01). IVF-ET is associated with PAS, and PAS after IVF-ET was associated with a lower rate of antenatal diagnosis. Therefore, clinicians can pay more attention to the presence of PAS during antenatal evaluation in women with IVF-ET, especially in frozen ET with hormone replacement cycle.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33911134 · DOI · PMC8080594

Circulating trophoblast cell clusters for early detection of placenta accreta spectrum disorders [2]

Research article Afshar Y, Dong J, Zhao P, Li L, Wang S, Zhang RY, et al. · · 2021 · cited 34 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a high-risk obstetrical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
Closing excerpt
Our assay holds the potential to improve current diagnostic modalities for the early detection of PAS.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (150 words)

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a high-risk obstetrical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Current clinical screening modalities for PAS are not always conclusive. Here, we report a nanostructure-embedded microchip that efficiently enriches both single and clustered circulating trophoblasts (cTBs) from maternal blood for detecting PAS. We discover a uniquely high prevalence of cTB-clusters in PAS and subsequently optimize the device to preserve the intactness of these clusters. Our feasibility study on the enumeration of cTBs and cTB-clusters from 168 pregnant women demonstrates excellent diagnostic performance for distinguishing PAS from non-PAS. A logistic regression model is constructed using a training cohort and then cross-validated and tested using an independent cohort. The combined cTB assay achieves an Area Under ROC Curve of 0.942 (throughout gestation) and 0.924 (early gestation) for distinguishing PAS from non-PAS. Our assay holds the potential to improve current diagnostic modalities for the early detection of PAS.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34344888 · DOI · PMC8333096

Association of Placenta Previa With Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Patients With Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder [3]

Research article Han X, Guo Z, Yang X, Yang H, Ma J · · 2022 · cited 34 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
ImportancePlacenta previa is widely acknowledged as a risk factor for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders, which are severe maternal complications; however, data are limited regarding whether placenta previa is associated with a higher risk of worse maternal outcomes among patients with PAS disorders.
Closing excerpt
These findings suggest that interventions to alleviate maternal and surgical morbidities are especially needed for patients with placenta previa-complicated PAS disorders.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (318 words)

ImportancePlacenta previa is widely acknowledged as a risk factor for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders, which are severe maternal complications; however, data are limited regarding whether placenta previa is associated with a higher risk of worse maternal outcomes among patients with PAS disorders.ObjectiveTo examine the association between placenta previa and the risk of severe maternal morbidities (SMMs) and higher resource use among patients with PAS disorders.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study extracted records of 3793 patients with PAS diagnosis and delivery indicators between October 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, from the US National Inpatient Sample database.ExposuresPlacenta previa.Main outcomes and measuresData on 21 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-defined SMMs and 25 study-defined surgical morbidities associated with PAS were extracted. Six surgical procedures (cystoscopy, intra-arterial balloon occlusion, cesarean delivery, hysterectomy, cystectomy, and oophorectomy), hospital length of stay, and inpatient costs were compared. Multivariable Poisson regression models built in the generalized estimating equation framework were used.ResultsAmong 3793 patients with PAS (median [IQR] age at admission, 33 [29-37] years), 621 women (16.4%) were Black, 765 (20.2%) were Hispanic, 1779 (46.9%) were White, 441 (11.6%) were of other races and/or ethnicities (47 [1.2%] were American Indian, 220 [5.8%] were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 174 [4.6%] were of multiple or other races and/or ethnicities), and 187 (4.9%) were of unknown race and ethnicity. A total of 1323 patients (34.9%) had placenta previa and 2470 patients (65.1%) did not; of those with placenta previa, 405 patients (30.6%) had invasive PAS. Patients with vs without placenta previa had a significantly higher rate and risk of any SMM (935 women [70.7%] vs 1087 women [44.0%]; P Conclusions and relevanceIn this study, placenta previa was associated with an increased risk of maternal and surgical morbidities and higher resource use among women with PAS. These findings suggest that interventions to alleviate maternal and surgical morbidities are especially needed for patients with placenta previa-complicated PAS disorders.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35994286 · DOI · PMC9396360

Intraoperative Transvaginal Ultrasonographic Evaluation for Placenta Accreta Spectrum in Placenta Previa: A Retrospective Observational Study [4]

Research article Mitoma T, Sakata S, Suemori A, Ooba H, Hayata K, Maki J · · 2026 · cited 1 times (Europe PMC)

Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
Opening excerpt
AimTo assess the utility of intraoperative transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) in evaluating the duration of blood flow in cervical hypervascularity as a real time diagnostic marker for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in placenta previa.
Closing excerpt
A flow duration of < 7 min may help rule out PAS, while ≥ 14 min may suggest its presence and guide safer intraoperative management.
Interpretation limits
Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (248 words)

AimTo assess the utility of intraoperative transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) in evaluating the duration of blood flow in cervical hypervascularity as a real time diagnostic marker for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in placenta previa.MethodsThis single-center historical cohort study included patients with placenta previa with intraoperative TVUS. The primary outcome was blood flow persistence time, defined as the interval from fetal delivery to disappearance of low-velocity (≤ 2.0 cm/s) color Doppler signals in cervical hypervascularity. Two obstetricians independently reviewed surgical video recordings. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of flow persistence time for predicting PAS. The AUC was calculated to assess discrimination. Optimal cutoffs were based on sensitivity and specificity. Independent predictors of PAS were identified by multivariate regression.ResultsPAS was diagnosed in 20 cases (38.5%). Flow persistence time was significantly longer in PAS cases (20.20 ± 14.31 min) than in non-PAS cases (5.69 ± 2.46 min). A cut-off of 7 min achieved 100% sensitivity and 72% specificity (AUC = 0.94), reliably excluding PAS when flow ceased within this period. A threshold of ≥ 14 min yielded 100% positive predictive value for PAS and 96% specificity for predicting hysterectomy. Flow duration remained an independent predictor in multivariable analysis (AUC = 0.95).ConclusionsIntraoperative assessment of cervical hypervascularity blood flow duration using TVUS may serve as a supportive indicator when PAS is suspected. A flow duration of < 7 min may help rule out PAS, while ≥ 14 min may suggest its presence and guide safer intraoperative management.

Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42244252 · DOI · PMC13238295

Key reviews and meta-analyses

The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.

  • Research article Placenta accreta spectrum: pathophysiology and evidence-based anatomy for prenatal ultrasound imaging [5]
    Jauniaux E, Collins S, Burton GJ · Am J Obstet Gynecol · 2018 · cited 494 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article FIGO classification for the clinical diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorders [6]
    Jauniaux E, Ayres-de-Campos D, Langhoff-Roos J, Fox KA, Collins S, FIGO Placenta Accreta Diagnosis and Management Expert Consensus Panel · Int J Gynaecol Obstet · 2019 · cited 481 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Placenta accreta [7]
    Publications Committee, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Belfort MA · Am J Obstet Gynecol · 2010 · cited 359 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Placenta Praevia and Placenta Accreta: Diagnosis and Management: Green-top Guideline No. 27a [8]
    Jauniaux E, Alfirevic Z, Bhide AG, Belfort MA, Burton GJ, Collins SL, et al. · BJOG · 2019 · cited 348 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Placenta Accreta Spectrum [9]
    Silver RM, Branch DW · N Engl J Med · 2018 · cited 335 times (Europe PMC)
  • Research article Obstetric Care Consensus No. 7: Placenta Accreta Spectrum [10]
    American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine · Obstet Gynecol · 2018 · cited 318 times (Europe PMC)

References

  1. Matsuzaki S, Nagase Y, Takiuchi T, Kakigano A, Mimura K, Lee M, et al.. Antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. . 2021. PMID 33911134 · DOI · PMC8080594
  2. Afshar Y, Dong J, Zhao P, Li L, Wang S, Zhang RY, et al.. Circulating trophoblast cell clusters for early detection of placenta accreta spectrum disorders. . 2021. PMID 34344888 · DOI · PMC8333096
  3. Han X, Guo Z, Yang X, Yang H, Ma J. Association of Placenta Previa With Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Patients With Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder. . 2022. PMID 35994286 · DOI · PMC9396360
  4. Mitoma T, Sakata S, Suemori A, Ooba H, Hayata K, Maki J. Intraoperative Transvaginal Ultrasonographic Evaluation for Placenta Accreta Spectrum in Placenta Previa: A Retrospective Observational Study. . 2026. PMID 42244252 · DOI · PMC13238295
  5. Jauniaux E, Collins S, Burton GJ. Placenta accreta spectrum: pathophysiology and evidence-based anatomy for prenatal ultrasound imaging. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018. PMID 28599899 · DOI
  6. Jauniaux E, Ayres-de-Campos D, Langhoff-Roos J, Fox KA, Collins S, FIGO Placenta Accreta Diagnosis and Management Expert Consensus Panel. FIGO classification for the clinical diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorders. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2019. PMID 31173360 · DOI
  7. Publications Committee, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Belfort MA. Placenta accreta. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010. PMID 21055510 · DOI
  8. Jauniaux E, Alfirevic Z, Bhide AG, Belfort MA, Burton GJ, Collins SL, et al.. Placenta Praevia and Placenta Accreta: Diagnosis and Management: Green-top Guideline No. 27a. BJOG. 2019. PMID 30260097 · DOI
  9. Silver RM, Branch DW. Placenta Accreta Spectrum. N Engl J Med. 2018. PMID 29669225 · DOI
  10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Obstetric Care Consensus No. 7: Placenta Accreta Spectrum. Obstet Gynecol. 2018. PMID 30461695 · DOI

About this article

Sources
NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
Verification
Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
Review state
automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
Version
1, last updated 2026-11-04.

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At a glance

3,631
PubMed records on this heading
40%
published since 2020
454
review articles
13
randomized trials
10
verified references below

Counts come from PubMed on 2026-11-04; they show how much has been written, not how strong the evidence is.

Related topics See all →

  • Uterine InversionKidney, Urology and Women's Health
  • Postpartum HemorrhageKidney, Urology and Women's Health
  • Placental InsufficiencyKidney, Urology and Women's Health
  • Placenta PreviaKidney, Urology and Women's Health
  • Abruptio PlacentaeKidney, Urology and Women's Health

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