Large chorioangiomas may act as arteriovenous shunts and may not allow normal gas or nutrient exchange between the fetus and the mother. This may result in a number of potential fetal complications, including polyhydramnios (14%–28%), hydrops, intrauterine growth restriction (30%), and prematurity (40%), microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, intralesional hemorrhage and in utero death. The combination of giant hemangioma, thrombocytopenia, and consumptive coagulopathy is called Kasabach–Merritt syndrome (KMS).

Antenatal diagnosis of placental chorioangioma is based on the ultrasound identification of a well-circumscribed hypoechoic mass located in the chorionic plate. Feeding vessels may or may not be distinguishable with color or pulsed Doppler. The number of feeding vessels may be a single pair (one artery, one vein), or complex.

The management of pregnancies diagnosed with placental chorioangioma is mostly expectant. Prenatal intervention may be necessary in cases presenting with severe polyhydramnios, pending or overt fetal heart failure, or maternal symptoms of cervical shortening or preterm labor, particularly if remote from viability. Antenatal management may include medical or instrumental treatment of polyhydramnios or symptomatic treatment of fetal anemia. Quintero and collaborators first described the successful fetoscopic management of a placental chorioangioma by occluding the feeding vessels to the mass. Although the fetus did not survive because of advanced heart failure, subsequent cases have shown that successful devascularization of placental chorioangioma is possible and can effectively treat the condition. Fetoscopic devascularization of placental chorioangiomas is currently being offered as a management option in selected cases.