Utility of fetal karyotype in the evaluation of phenotypically abnormal stillbirths.

The objectives of this study are to test the hypothesis that stillbirths without aneuploidy-associated phenotypes have a low incidence of karyotypic abnormalities, similar among those with and without other anatomic defects. We employed a uniform postmortem protocol to examine fetuses and placentas in 962 consecutive stillbirths measuring > or =20 weeks in clinically determined gestational age submitted to the Women and Infants Hospital Division of Perinatal Pathology from 1990 through 2005. Classification of anatomic (macroscopic) abnormalities was based on a priori criteria.