Changez K Jadoon, Masood Afzal, Tanveer UI Haq, Yousuf A Husen.
Chorioangioma: Diagnosis by Colour Doppler Ultrasound.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;9(4):195-6.

Chorioangioma being the commonest benign tumour of placenta, needs early detection and diagnosis because of its possible complications. A case is presented having an incidental ultrasound detection of well defined hypoechoic lesion in placenta at 35 weeks pregnancy without any ill effects to the mother and foetus. It was diagnosed on the basis of its typical colour doppler findings and confirmed on postpartum biopsy. Colour doppler ultrasound is therefore quite valuable in showing the vascular pattern of placental lesions and diagnosis of chorioangiomas.

CASE REPORT: A healthy 33 years old female was referred from an outside clinician for a routine antenatal ultrasound examination. Placenta showed a 7x6 cms size, very well defined, somewhat rounded hypoechoic lesion. This was situated along the surface of placenta close to the cord insertion. The margins were quite echogenic and the internal texture homogeneously hypoechoic with a vascular hilum at one side (Fig. 1). Colour doppler examination was carried out to assess the vascularity of the lesion which showed the lesion being highly vascular. A single vascular stem was seen originating at the umbilical cord insertion and entering at the hilum of the lesion. Both arterial and venous flow pattern was seen on colour doppler extending upto the periphery of the lesion. The diagnosis of chorioangioma was given on the basis of colour doppler ultrasound. The foetus did not reveal any evidence of growth retardation, hydrops, asphyxia, or cardiac failure. Amniotic fluid index was within normal limits. The gestation proceeded to normal term without any maternal complication or increase in the size of the lesion. The diagnosis of chorioangioma was finally confirmed on post partum placental biopsy.

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