Giant chorioangioma of placenta: an infrequent placental cause for adverse feto-maternal outcome

Giant placental chorioangioma discovered at 29 weeks’ gestation: a case report

“…3 These lesions are thus classified as placental hamartomas rather than true neoplasia. 5 Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells show staining for CD31, CD34, factor VIII, GLUT1 and cytokeratin 18. 3 Usually, chorioangiomas are treated with expectant management.…”

“…In literature, the consensus about the association between the chorioangioma size and high fetal complications and neonatal mortality rates was replicated in the present case. 5 Both the increased venous return to heart, due to the enlargement of feto-placental blood volume, and the reduced fetal cardiac after-load for tumor functional arteriovenous shunt can impair fetal heart reserve capacity, with possibility of congestive cardiac failure, oedema, hydrops, intrauterine growth restriction and finally fetal death. 1,6 Polyhydramnios has been attributed to fluid transudation through walls of tumor vessels or to mechanical obstruction of umbilical vein by large tumor mass.…”

“…1,6 Polyhydramnios has been attributed to fluid transudation through walls of tumor vessels or to mechanical obstruction of umbilical vein by large tumor mass. 5 To a certain extent, polyhydramnios increases the risks of preterm labor, placental abruption and postpartum hemorrhage. Fetal symptoms of hydrops can ''mirror'' and cause maternal complication called mirror syndrome, also known as Ballantyne syndrome, which disappears quickly after delivery.…”

“…This expensive modality is safe in pregnancy and has an ability to differentiate between chorioangioma and other placental pathologies by T weighting of the image. 1,5 Histologically, three forms have been described: angiomatous, cellular and degenerate. Angiomatous being the most recurrent, with numerous proliferative blood vessels in various stages of differentiation from capillary to cavernous surrounded by placental stroma.…”