Understanding Placental Chorioangioma
A Guide for You and Your Family
This presentation will help you understand your diagnosis and what to expect.
What is a Placental Chorioangioma?
A placental chorioangioma is a non-cancerous growth in your placenta.
Think of it as a cluster of extra blood vessels that formed in the placenta.
The placenta is the organ that feeds your baby during pregnancy.
Important: This growth is NOT cancer. It cannot spread to other parts of your body or your baby.
Doctors sometimes call it a "benign tumor" or "vascular malformation." These terms simply mean it's a harmless cluster of blood vessels.
How Common Is This?
pregnancies have a chorioangioma
This condition happens in about 1% of all pregnancies.
Most are very small (less than 2 cm or about the size of a grape).
Small chorioangiomas usually cause no problems for mom or baby.
✓ You did nothing to cause this. It's not related to anything you did or didn't do during pregnancy.
How Do We Find It?
We find chorioangiomas during routine ultrasound exams.
On ultrasound, they appear as a round mass attached to the placenta.
This is what a chorioangioma looks like on ultrasound
Understanding Blood Flow
We use special ultrasound (called Doppler ultrasound) to see blood flow.
The colors on the screen show blood moving through the chorioangioma.
This helps us understand if the chorioangioma is growing or changing.
Will This Affect My Baby?
Most small chorioangiomas (under 4 cm) do not cause problems.
What We Watch For:
- Baby's growth and development
- Amount of amniotic fluid (water around baby)
- Baby's heart function
- Size of the chorioangioma
Large chorioangiomas may sometimes affect the baby's health. If this happens, we will monitor more closely.
What Problems Can Happen?
With larger chorioangiomas, we watch for:
Too much blood flow: The chorioangioma may pull blood away from your baby.
Heart strain: Your baby's heart may work harder than normal.
Fluid buildup: Extra fluid may collect around your baby.
Low blood count: Your baby may develop anemia (low red blood cells).
✓ Remember: Most chorioangiomas are small and cause none of these problems.
What Will My Doctors Do?
Your care team will create a monitoring plan just for you.
Your Monitoring May Include:
- Regular ultrasounds (every 2-4 weeks)
- Checking baby's growth
- Measuring the chorioangioma size
- Monitoring amniotic fluid levels
- Checking baby's heart with ultrasound
If everything looks good, you may not need special treatment.
Do I Need Treatment?
Most women with a chorioangioma do not need treatment.
We only consider treatment if:
• The chorioangioma is large (over 4-5 cm)
• Your baby shows signs of problems
• There's too much or too little amniotic fluid
If treatment is needed, options may include:
• More frequent monitoring
• Medications to help your baby
• In rare cases, procedures to reduce blood flow
• Early delivery if needed for baby's safety
Can I Have a Normal Delivery?
✓ Yes! Most women with a chorioangioma can have a vaginal delivery.
The chorioangioma itself doesn't usually affect how you deliver.
Your delivery plan depends on:
• Your baby's health and position
• Size and location of the chorioangioma
• Any other pregnancy factors
• Your overall health
Your doctor will discuss the best delivery plan for you as you get closer to your due date.
Will My Baby Be Healthy?
✓ Most babies born to mothers with a chorioangioma are completely healthy.
Especially when:
• The chorioangioma is small
• Your ultrasounds show normal baby growth
• There are no signs of complications
If your baby needs extra care after birth, our pediatric team will be ready.
Some babies may need monitoring for anemia or jaundice (yellowing of skin).
What Should I Watch For?
Call your doctor right away if you notice:
Warning Signs:
- Your baby is moving less than usual
- You have vaginal bleeding
- You have belly pain or cramping
- You feel unwell or have fever
- You notice sudden swelling in your hands or face
- You have a severe headache
These signs don't always mean a problem, but it's important to get checked.
What Happens After Delivery?
After your baby is born, we examine the placenta.
This confirms the diagnosis and helps us learn more about the chorioangioma.
Good news: Once the baby is born and the placenta is delivered, the chorioangioma is gone.
Your baby may need:
• A blood test to check for anemia
• Monitoring for jaundice
• Regular newborn checkups
✓ Most mothers and babies do very well after delivery.
What About Future Pregnancies?
Having a chorioangioma in this pregnancy does not mean you will have one in future pregnancies.
Each pregnancy is different.
There is no increased risk of chorioangioma in your next pregnancy.
If you become pregnant again, tell your doctor about this pregnancy.
They may want to do a few extra ultrasounds to check your placenta.
What Can I Do?
Ways to Take Care of Yourself:
- Attend all your prenatal appointments
- Get all recommended ultrasounds
- Pay attention to your baby's movements
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Stay hydrated (drink plenty of water)
- Get enough rest
- Ask questions when you have concerns
✓ Remember: Your medical team is here to support you every step of the way.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
It's normal to have questions. Here are some you might want to ask:
Consider Asking:
- How big is the chorioangioma?
- How often will I need ultrasounds?
- Are there any signs I should watch for at home?
- What are the chances this will affect my baby?
- Will I need to deliver early?
- What happens if the chorioangioma grows?
- Can I exercise normally?
- Do I need to change my daily activities?
You're Not Alone
Learning about a pregnancy complication can feel overwhelming.
It's okay to feel worried, confused, or scared.
✓ Your medical team is here to answer questions and provide support.
Resources Available:
• Your maternal-fetal medicine specialist
• Your OB/GYN
• Pregnancy support groups
• Hospital social workers
• Mental health counselors
Don't hesitate to reach out when you need help or have questions.
Key Points to Remember
Most Important Things:
- Chorioangioma is a non-cancerous growth in the placenta
- It happens in about 1 in 100 pregnancies
- Most are small and cause no problems
- We will monitor your baby with regular ultrasounds
- Most women can have a normal vaginal delivery
- Most babies with this condition are born healthy
- Your medical team is here to support you
✓ With careful monitoring and teamwork, we expect a good outcome for you and your baby.
When to Contact Us
Please call your doctor's office if you have:
• Questions about your diagnosis
• Concerns about your baby's movements
• Any unusual symptoms
• Anxiety about your pregnancy
✓ No question is too small. We're here to help!
Thank you for taking time to learn about your diagnosis.
We're partners in your care.