Prenatal diagnosis of placental chorioangioma on ultrasound

Abstract

Placental chorioangioma is a benign non-trophoblastic tumor of the placenta which is typically vascular and is derived from primitive chorionic mesenchyme. Chorioangiomas make up 1% of incidentally detected placental mass lesions. These are usually located on the fetal surface of the placenta. 1 Ultrasound with Doppler examination remains the gold standard investigation of choice for the diagnosis, and for differentiat-ing placental chorioangiomas from other placental masses which include degenerated fibroid, organized placental hematoma, partial hydatidiform mole and placental teratoma. Intense vascularity of placental chorioangioma on color Doppler may indicate possible risk of fetal complications. 2 Prenatal diagnosis of chorioangioma with appropriate management should include serial antenatal ultrasound scans with assessment of the placenta and fetus, pulse wave Doppler assessment of the umbilical cord and middle cerebral artery, and