The Green Placental Disk: Massive Placental Disk Bilirubin Deposition Due to Maternal Hyperbilirubinemia

Abstract

Background

Bile staining in the hepatobiliary tree is a well-known phenomenon, but bilirubin can also be deposited in and stain the umbilical cord, amniotic fluid, placental disk and placental membranes.

Case Report

We present a placenta with grossly greenish discoloration of the placental disk and microscopic villous bilirubin deposition due to maternal hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusion: Maternal hyperbilirubinemia causes massive bilirubin deposition in villous synctiotrophoblasts and Hofbauer cells leading to grossly green discoloration of the placental disk.

Keywords:

• Cholestasis
• pregnancy
• placenta
• bilirubin
• hyperbilirubinemia

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.