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Intraplacental choriocarcinoma as an unexpected cause of intrauterine death at term
  1. H. T. Nagel*,
  2. F. P. Vandenbussche,
  3. V. T. Smit,
  4. M. N. Wasser§ and
  5. A. A. Peters
  1. * Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bronovo Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands; and Departments of
  2. Obstetrics,
  3. Pathology,
  4. § Radiology, and
  5. Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Alexander A. Peters, MD, PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leiden University Medical Centre PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. Email: a.a.w.peters{at}lumc.nl

Abstract

Intraplacental choriocarcinoma is rare. It can cause fetal death at term by fetomaternal hemorrhage. We present a case of intraplacental choriocarcinoma. After a hydatidiform mole with persistence of throphoblastic disease, the patient delivered a stillborn baby at term. Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage was the unexpected cause of death. Choriocarcinoma was only diagnosed after pathologic revision of the placenta because of persistent high levels of serum hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). Massive fetomaternal hemorrhage should alert the obstetrician and the pathologist to the possibility of choriocarcinoma arising from the placenta

  • fetomaternal hemorrhage
  • intraplacental choriocarcinoma
  • intrauterine death
  • trophoblastic disease

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