ultrasound findings

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Note added at 8 mins (2008-09-12 04:45:13 GMT)
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http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/174/3/641.pdf

Retroplacental Hematoma and
Abruptio Placentae
Bleeding along the basal plate of the placenta,
separating it from the underlying uterine
wall, may result from primary abruptio placentae
or ruptured spiral arteries.

Sonographically, the retroplacental hematoma
may mimic a thickened placenta because the hematoma
is commonly isoechoic to the placenta.
Otherwise, the retroplacental hematoma may be
hypoechoic or may be of heterogeneous echogenicity
(Fig. 10). Because of the low sensitivity of
sonography in detecting small retroplacental or
submembranous hematomas or the occasional
absence of bleeding with placental abruption,
negative sonographic findings do not rule out the
presence of placental abruption