Prenatal diagnosis of umbilical cord hemangioma in increased alpha fetoprotein

: In a patient with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein a little haemangioma of the umbilical cord is diagnosed by ultrasound in the 21st week of pregnancy. So far only nine reports exist of prenatal diagnosed haemangiomas of the cord. Severe complications like rupture, cord haematoma, non-immune hydrops fetalis and polyhydramnions as well as a perinatal mortality of 35% have been reported. Therefore, intensive surveillance during pregnancy is mandatory.