Pathology of the Human Placenta

Examination of the Placenta.- Macroscopic Features of the Delivered Placenta.- Microscopic Survey.- Placental Types.- Early Development of the Human Placenta.- Basic Structure of the Villous Tree.- Architecture of Normal Villous Trees.- Characterization of the Developmental Stages.- Nonvillous Parts and Trophoblast Invasion.- Involution of Implantation Site - Retained Placenta.- Anatomy and Pathology of the Placental Membranes.- Anatomy and Pathology of the Umbilical Cord.- Placental Shape Aberrations.- Histopathological Approach to Villous Alterations.- Villous Maldevelopment.- Erythroblastosis Fetalis and Hydrops Fetalis.- Transplacental Hemorrhage, Cell Transfer, Trauma.-Fetal Storage Disorders.- Maternal Diseases Complicating Pregnancy: Diabetes, Tumors.- Infectious Diseases.- Abortion, Placentas of Trisomies, and Immunological Recurrent Reproductive Failure.- Molar Pregnancies.- Trophoblastic Neoplasms

Benign Tumors - Chorangiosis.- Multiple Pregnancies.- Legal Considerations.- Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART).-Glossary.- Normative Values and Table.- Index.

Kurt Benirschke received his MD from the University of Hamburg in 1948 and subsequently moved to the United States, where he trained in pathology at different university hospitals. He held various Harvard Medical School appointments before becoming Professor of Pathology and Chairman of the Department of Pathology at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, New Hampshire, where his interests included placental pathology, comparative reproductive pathology, and comparative cytogenetics. In 1970, Dr. Benirschke became Professor of Pathology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. He established a genetics laboratory and ran the autopsy service at the Center, and also chaired the Department of Pathology for 2 years. In addition, he served as Director of Research at San Diego Zoo in a newly established research department. There, he established the first "frozen zoo," comprising a collection of frozen cells and reproductive material from highly endangered species. Dr. Benirschke was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1994. After retiring from the faculty at UCSD he was appointed Professor Emeritus and also served as President of the Zoo's Board of Trustees. His many honors and awards include the ARCS Foundation Scientist of the Year in 1997, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' R. Marlin Perkins Award in 1998, and the E.A. Dickson Emeriti Professorship in 2008. Dr. Benirschke has served on a number of journal editorial boards and has authored 544 scientific papers, 111 book chapters, and 31 books.

Graham J. Burton gained a BA in Medical Sciences Tripos at Cambridge University before obtaining a BM BCh degree in Clinical Medicine at Oxford University. In 1982 he was appointed University Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, and he acquired his MD in 1984. He went on to become Director of Studies in Pre-clinical Medical Studies at St. John's College, Director of theSub-department of

From the reviews of the sixth edition:"It is intended for practicing pathologists as well as obstetricians and gynecologists, but because of its detailed description of pathophysiology, it also can serve as a resource for professionals in clinical research. ... This is by far the most comprehensive resource in this field. This book has great value for both pathologists with exposure to examination of the placenta and obstetrician/gynecologists who use the reports for management of their patients." (Raquel K. Walsh Jahnke, Doody's Book Reviews, March, 2013)