Intraplacental choriocarcinoma in a term pregnancy with massive fetomaternal hemorrhage: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Intraplacental choriocarcinoma (IC) is a rare type of gestational choriocarcinoma that occurs in the placenta, with only a small number of cases reported. The symptoms of IC are nonspecific, and the diagnosis is often incidental, typically made during routine placental pathological examination.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of IC in a 30-year-old Chinese woman presenting with intrauterine fetal distress and fetomaternal hemorrhage. The patient was admitted to our hospital at 40 weeks of gestation due to decreased fetal movements. An emergency cesarean section was performed, delivering a male infant with anemic appearance. Laboratory tests confirmed fetomaternal hemorrhage syndrome, while microscopic examination of the placenta revealed intraplacental choriocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted placental examination is advisable for patients with pregnancy complications. We hope this case raises awareness of this potential scenario, enabling clinicians to identify similar cases more readily in the future.