Standardized Placental Pathology Reporting: Improving Quality and Clinical Utility Recommendations From the Society for Pediatric Pathology Placental Pathology Reporting Task Force

Abstract

Background: Placental pathology has benefited greatly from the standardization of definitions provided by the Amsterdam consensus, however the quality of placental pathology reporting continues to suffer from a lack of unified and practical reporting standards and difficulty in applying the Amsterdam definitions to general clinical practice. Methods: A multidisciplinary Placental Pathology Reporting Task Force was formed to develop a standardized placental pathology reporting template based on a combination of evidence-based literature review and consensus expert opinion, and designed to complement the Amsterdam definitions. The goal of the task force was to create a practical, succinct, clinically informative, and easily customizable template that can be adapted to varying institutional preferences. Results: The proposed standardized reporting template encompasses a wide breadth of common placental pathologic diagnoses and provides recommended diagnostic terminology, explanatory comments and practical tips, and notes to ease the application of definitions. Input from pathologists from different practice settings, obstetric providers, neonatologists, and patient advocates was integrated. Conclusions: The introduction of a standardized placental reporting template holds the potential to reform and advance placental pathology practice across the diverse range of settings in which it is currently performed. The proposed template is adaptable, allowing pathologists to include additional information beyond the recommended standard as needed/preferred. Widespread adoption of this framework will enhance the clinical utility and value of placental pathology reports by clinicians and patients, ultimately supporting more informed and appropriate management of neonates and future pregnancies.