Placenta accreta is best described as which of the following?

• A. Invasion into the myometrium
• B. Attachment to the myometrium without invasion
• C. Invasion through serosa into adjacent organs
• D. Normal placenta

Answer: (B)

Placenta accreta occurs when the placental tissue attaches to the myometrium rather than the decidua, so the placenta adheres to the muscular uterine wall without invading it. This abnormal adherence makes placental separation difficult after delivery and increases the risk of severe postpartum hemorrhage, often necessitating surgical management such as cesarean delivery with hysterectomy. It’s different from invasion into the myometrium (placenta increta) and invasion through the serosa into adjacent organs (placenta percreta), and from a normal placenta that detaches with minimal bleeding.