Spontaneous necrosis of a giant placental chorioangioma: case report

Abstract

Chorioangiomas are the most common benign placental tumors, with an estimated prevalence of 1%. Whilst small chorioangiomas usually remain asymptomatic and are of no clinical significance, larger tumors (>4cm) can be associated with a variety of complications, ranging from fetal anemia to in-utero demise in up to 40% of cases. Despite size being a major determinant for the risk of complications, the degree of the chorioangioma's vascularity also seems to play a role. In fact, in selected cases, occluding the tumors vessels (e.g. with alcoholic instillation) appears to improve the prognosis due to the subsequent tumor ischemia. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman who at 29 weeks was found to have a large placental hypervascular mass (93mm×66mm) and polyhydramnios, with an elevated peak systolic volume in the middle cerebral artery. She was given corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation, and throughout her admission both the volume of amniotic fluid stabilized and the peak systolic volume in the middle cerebral artery normalized, with changing of the ultrasonographic characteristics of the chorioangioma, with apparent progressive necrosis. At 34 weeks, a large subchorionic hematoma was found and, due to the risk of impending placental abruption, we opted to deliver by cesarean section, with a favorable outcome.