Chorioangioma: antenatal diagnosis with fast MR imaging

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