Prenatal diagnosis of cavernous hemangioma in a specialist hospital in Port Harcourt, South South Nigeria. A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Congenital cavernous hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumors that are present at birth. They can occur in various organs of the body. Prenatal diagnosis can be done using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Very few cases have been described in the literature in Port Harcourt, south-south Nigeria. We present the case of a 33-year-old P3+1 mother who presented for a third-trimester fetal ultrasound scan at 35weeks gestation in a specialist hospital in Port Harcourt. The ultrasound scan showed a live fetus with a huge multiloculated soft tissue mass measuring ~ 11.4cmx8.7cm with areas of minimal flow located in the anterior aspect of the neck, chest, and abdomen extending to the ipsilateral arm and forearm sparing the fingers. No other gross abnormalities were noted. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study was also done to further characterize the aforementioned mass. A diagnosis of congenital hemangioma of the neck, chest, and upper limb was made. The pregnancy progressed and a planned cesarean section was done at 38 weeks with the birth of a live 3.5kg female baby. An excision biopsy of the mass was done at the age of 2 months confirming the diagnosis of a congenital cavernous haemangioma.