Giant Placental Chorioangioma with Intrauterine Fetal Death

Chorioangioma of the placenta is a common benign vascular tumour of the placenta consisting of blood vessels and stroma. Most of these tumours are small and have no adverse impact on the fetus. Large tumours are associated with complications affecting mother and the fetus which may cause intrauterine fetal death. Chorioangiomas probably act as peripheral shunts between arteries and veins (arteriovenous shunts) leading to progressive heart failure of the fetus. Prenatal diagnosis is achieved by ultrasonography and Doppler studies will confirm the highly vascular nature of the mass.As the tumour is associated with unfavourable effects on the mother and fetus like polyhydramnios, prematurity, toxaemia, hydrops and fetal heart failure pregnancy needs to have regular surveillance to detect and manage complications early. A case of giant placental chorioangioma in a primigravida associated with intrauterine fetal death at 30 weeks of gestation is reported._______________________________________________________________________________________Keywords: Chorioangioma, hydrops fetalis; intrauterine fetal death; placental tumors._________________________________________________________________________________