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Low-lying placenta — DRCOG MCQ

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ModerateAntenatal CareLow-lying placentaDRCOG

A 35-year-old woman at 20 weeks' gestation has her anomaly scan report sent to the GP. It shows a low-lying placenta 12 mm from the internal os; the fetus is structurally normal. She has no bleeding. What would you advise?

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Correct answer: B — A repeat placental localisation scan in the third trimester

A low-lying placenta at the routine anomaly scan commonly resolves as the uterus enlarges, so repeat imaging in the third trimester is appropriate. Immediate operative delivery planning is premature without later localisation. The teaching point is that the term low-lying at 20 weeks is a surveillance finding, not a definitive diagnosis of placenta praevia at delivery.

Reference: NICE NG201; RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 27a