Giant placental chorioangioma and intrapartum acute fetal distress: A case report

Placental chorioangioma represents the most frequent benign non-trophoblastic tumor of the placenta. Most lesions are small and clinically silent, but giant chorioangiomas (4–5 cm), while uncommon, can be associated with serious complications. This report describes the case of a 27-year-old woman (gravida 2, para 1) with an uneventful pregnancy until 33 weeks, when an ultrasound identified a placental mass measuring 60 × 70 mm. At 36 weeks, she presented with spontaneous rupture of membranes and labor pains. During labor, the fetus developed acute distress, and an emergency cesarean section was performed. A female infant weighing 2360 g was delivered with Apgar scores of 7 and 9 at 1 and 5 min. Intraoperatively, a well-circumscribed placental tumor measuring 10 × 10 cm was observed. Histopathological analysis confirmed chorioangioma. Both mother and newborn were discharged in good health on postoperative day 5. Although often silent during pregnancy, giant placental chorioangiomas may precipitate acute intrapartum complications. Vigilant antenatal monitoring and timely intervention are crucial to optimize perinatal outcomes. • Giant placental chorioangiomas are potentially serious lesions. • They may be clinically silent during pregnancy but go on to produce unexpected intrapartum complications. • Early detection, close antenatal surveillance, and prompt obstetric management are essential for improving perinatal outcomes for women with giant placental chorioangiomas.