Large placental chorioangioma: a potential effective in-utero treatment modality for radio frequency ablation

Abstract

Abstract Background Placenta chorioangiomas are common benign placental tumours. While microscopic chorioangiomas are frequent, macroscopic chorioangiomas of more than 5 cm are rare and often associated with fetal complications such as high output cardiac failure, fetal anaemia and stillbirth. Close monitoring and in-utero treatment are sometimes necessary to prevent adverse pregnancy outcome. Case presentation We present two cases of large placenta chorioangiomas with one case requiring surgical therapy with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of tumour vessels, which resulted in a successful outcome of a live birth at term. Conclusion We conclude that RFA is an effective alternative treatment modality to fetoscopic laser therapy in utero for cases at risk of fetal cardiac failure and intrauterine demise in the presence of large chorioangiomas.