MATERNAL SERUM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN LEVELS IN CHORIOANGIOMAS

It has been suggested that chorioangiomas should be added to the list of causes of elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. We unde rtook a review of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein levels in chorioang iomas histologically diagnosed in our department, and a review of the literature. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level was elevated in onl y 1 of our 11 cases of chorioangioma. To date, there have been 14 case reports of chorioangiomas in which maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein l evels have been recorded; 12 of these were associated with elevated ma ternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. We consider that, although chor ioangiomas may be a cause of elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, it is likely to be infrequently a cause of such elevations in our population.