Chorangiosis

Placenta
Non-trophoblastic neoplasms
Chorangiosis

Author: Mandolin Ziadie, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 7 October 2015, last major update November 2011

Copyright: (c) 2003-2015, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: chorangiosis

Table of Contents

Definition / General | Gross Description | Micro Description | Micro Images

Definition / General

More than 10 capillaries in at least 10 terminal villi in at least 3 low-power fields of the placenta (normal villi rarely have > 5 capillary lumina)
Capillary (NOT stromal) hypercellularity is due to chronic placental hypoperfusion or low-grade tissue hypoxemia
May be seen in pre-eclampsia, diabetes mellitus, placentomegaly, high altitudes, drugs and urinary tract infections
Associated with neonatal morbidity / mortality (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1984;108:71)

Gross Description

Associated with single umbilical artery and other umbilical cord anomalies, retroplacental hematoma (abruptio placentae) and placenta previa

Micro Description

More than 10 capillaries in at least 10 terminal villi in at least 3 low-power fields of the placenta
Capillaries are not surrounded by a continuous layer of pericytes or associated with stromal fibrosis
May be associated with other features of villous dysmaturity, chorangioma, amnion nodosum, chronic villitis and FTV
Distinguish from congestion (vessels appear prominent but are normal in number) and tissue ischemia (other features of ischemia include shrunken coalesced villi)

Micro Images

Chorangiosis

Courtesy of Dr. Semir Vranic