Hemangioma of the umbilical cord: A case report on a rare entity

Abstract

Abstract Several hundred cases of placental hemangiomas have been reported in the literature. However, the umbilical cord is extremely uncommon as a site of occurrence. We present a case of postnatal discovery of giant hemangioma of the umbilical cord (HUM) in a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) positive mother. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of HUM synchronous to a maternal infection with COVID 19. We aim, through this case and a review of the literature, to study the clinicopathological characteristics of this singular entity. Our patient, a 37‐year‐old woman, presented to the Department Of Obstetrics And Gynecology for respiratory distress and loss of fetal movements. Ultrasound examination concluded to intrauterine fetal desmise. After stabilization of the patient, a cesarean section was performed. A macerated fetus was extracted. Placenta showed a giant mass attached to the cord. It was submitted for pathological examination. Gross examination showed that the umbilical cord was inserted eccentrically with a fusiform dilation. Near its placental end, three cohesive solid angiomatous nodules were noted. Microscopic examination revealed lobules of dilated blood‐filled capillaries set in a myxoid stroma. The diagnosis of HUM have been established. HUM arise from endothelial cells of the umbilical vessels. Their etiology, physio‐pathology and pathways of tumorigenesis are not yet well defined. Further studies are needed to explore the pathways of tumorigenesis and to determin the implication of COVID‐19 in HUM.

Keywords

• congenital malformation
• coronavirus disease 2019
• hemangioma of the umbilical cord
• intrauterine fetal death
• placenta