Angioma is an abnormal growth, and chorangioma (also called chorioangioma) is characterized by a benign tumor and an excessive amount of blood vessels in the placenta. This can pose significant risks to both mother and baby if not properly monitored and managed. While many chorioangiomas are small and asymptomatic, larger tumors can lead to serious complications.
If you or your child experienced complications related to a chorioangioma, it's important to understand your legal rights. Medical negligence can occur when healthcare providers fail to diagnose, monitor, or treat chorioangioma appropriately.
The Becker Law Firm is committed to helping families who have been affected by medical malpractice. Our experienced Cleveland attorneys can evaluate your case and provide personalized legal advice.
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Diagnosis of Chorangioma
Chorioangiomas are typically diagnosed during routine prenatal ultrasound examinations or an MRI, often in the second trimester. These benign tumors appear as solid masses on ultrasound, usually located near where the umbilical cord enters the placenta.
While many chorioangiomas are small and asymptomatic, larger tumors can lead to complications. In these cases, additional diagnostic tests may be necessary:
- Fetal echocardiogram: This test is used to evaluate the fetal heart function, as large chorioangiomas can sometimes cause excessive blood flow, leading to heart strain.
- Doppler ultrasound: This technique measures blood flow within the tumor and can help determine its size and impact on the fetus.
- Amniocentesis: In some cases, amniocentesis may be performed to assess the fetal lung maturity and rule out other conditions.
In most cases, however, diagnosis is not made until after delivery of the placenta through placental pathology. It is an uncommon condition, occurring in less than 1% of all pregnancies. However, it may be more common among pregnant women living in higher elevations.
Risk Factors for Chorangioma
While the exact cause of chorioangiomas remains unknown, certain factors may increase the risk of developing these benign tumors:
- Maternal age: Older women may have a slightly higher risk of developing chorioangiomas.
- Multiple pregnancies: Women who have had multiple pregnancies may also be at a slightly increased risk.
- Previous chorioangioma: If you had a chorioangioma in a previous pregnancy, you may be more likely to develop one in a subsequent pregnancy.
- Certain medical conditions: Some underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or blood clotting disorders, may be associated with a higher risk of chorioangioma.
Many women with these risk factors do not develop chorioangiomas, and some women with no known risk factors may develop them.
Effects of Chorangioma
In most cases, chorangioma has no effect on the developing baby. Treatment of particularly large chorangiomas is done with chemical ablation or laser coagulation. It is associated with some complications, including:
- heart failure
- hydrops fetalis (accumulation of fluid in the baby)
- sudden intrauterine fetal death
- polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios
- intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
- preeclampsia
- hemorrhage
- preterm labor
- premature delivery
- placental abruption
- placenta previa
Treatment Options for Chorioangioma
Careful medical providers should take care to diagnose chorangioma, and then be prepared to treat other common complications. The ultrasound should be carefully examined to exclude abnormalities of the baby.
Chorioangiomas are often asymptomatic and do not require treatment. In many cases, they are simply monitored closely during pregnancy. However, if a chorioangioma is large or causing complications, treatment may be necessary.
Treatment options may include:
- Observation: If the chorioangioma is small and asymptomatic, close monitoring with regular ultrasound examinations may be sufficient.
- Delivery at term: In most cases, chorioangiomas can be safely managed until delivery.
- Early delivery: In rare cases, if the chorioangioma is causing severe fetal complications, early delivery may be recommended.
- Blood transfusion: If the chorioangioma is causing significant blood loss, a blood transfusion may be necessary.
- Surgery: In extremely rare cases, if the chorioangioma is causing severe complications and cannot be managed with other treatments, surgery may be considered. However, surgery during pregnancy is risky and is generally reserved for life-threatening situations.
