An epidemiological study investigating the relationship between chorangioma and infantile hemangioma.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to verify whether the infantile hemangioma (IH) incidence in children whose placentas showed a chorangioma is higher than in the general population, thus addressing the hypothesized relationship between chorangioma and IH.


METHODS
All chorangioma diagnoses by the 1st Service of Pathology, University of Padova in 2004-2010, based on the analysis of placentas sent by the Department of Gynecological Sciences and Human Reproduction (University of Padova), were identified. Demographic, anamnestic and clinical data were collected from the mothers and newborns; mothers and pediatricians were interviewed by telephone within 1 year after birth to verify if any IH appeared. The incidence rates of IH and other adverse events (IUGR, preterm delivery, cesarean section, stillbirth) were compared with national and regional data, when available, or with estimates from the scientific literature.


RESULTS
Thirty-eight chorangioma diagnoses were found. Of 33 infants born with a placenta affected by chorangioma, 18 infants had IH. The IH incidence recorded in our series (55%) was significantly higher than that recorded in national and regional surveys and in the scientific literature. Similar findings have been observed for the incidence of stillbirth, preterm birth and low birth weight incidence.


CONCLUSIONS
The IH incidence observed in our series appears to be significantly higher than that recorded among the general population, suggesting that an association between placental chorangioma and IH could exist which should be further verified in prospective studies.
Department for Women and Neonatal Care, Abano Terme General Hospital, Abano, PD, Italy.
Alessia
A
Selmin
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
Francesca
F
Foltran
Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy.
Silvia
S
Chiarelli
Department for Mother and Pediatric Care, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, A.O. 2, Padova, Italy.
Rosaria
R
Ciullo
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Italy. Electronic address: dario.gregori@unipd.it.
Dario
D
Gregori
D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
Epidemiology; Infantile hemangiomas; Placental chorangioma