Chorioangioma: antenatal diagnosis with fast MR imaging

We report a case of chorioangioma of the placenta, in which fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was useful adjunct to ultrasonography for the antenatal diagnosis. MRI allowed clear demonstration of 6.8 x 6.0 cm solid placental mass along with hydramnios and anatomically normal fetus. On T-1-weightcd breath-hold spoiled gradient-echo (fast low-angle shot [FLASH]) images, chorioangioma was mostly isointense to the placenta, but had an area of high signal intensity near the base and at the periphery, suggestive of hemorrhage. On T-2-weighted half-Fourier single-shot fast spin echo (HASTE) images, the mass showed heterogeneous high signal intensity, but had an area of low signal intensity near the surface. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.