From the Research
Decidua tissue on histopathological examination for miscarriage represents the transformed endometrial lining of the uterus during pregnancy, which is crucial for implantation and maintenance of early pregnancy. When examining tissue from a miscarriage, pathologists look for decidualized endometrial stroma, which appears as large polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and round nuclei 1. This tissue is essential for implantation and maintenance of early pregnancy. In miscarriage specimens, the decidua may show signs of inflammation, necrosis, or insufficient development. The presence of decidua without chorionic villi (placental tissue) may indicate an incomplete sampling or an ectopic pregnancy, as seen in some cases in the study by 2. Conversely, finding decidua with degenerating villi suggests an intrauterine pregnancy loss. Pathologists also examine the decidua for signs of infection, abnormal blood vessel development, or immune cell infiltration that might explain the pregnancy loss, as discussed in the study by 3. Understanding decidual changes helps clinicians determine the cause of miscarriage and guides management decisions for the patient's future reproductive care. Some key points to consider when examining decidua tissue include:
- The presence of decidual tissue without chorionic villi, which may indicate an ectopic pregnancy or incomplete sampling 2
- The presence of inflammation, necrosis, or insufficient development in the decidua, which may suggest an intrauterine pregnancy loss 4
- The presence of signs of infection, abnormal blood vessel development, or immune cell infiltration in the decidua, which may explain the pregnancy loss 3
- The importance of histopathological examination in determining the cause of miscarriage and guiding management decisions for the patient's future reproductive care 1