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Partial hydatidiform mole

Case contributed by Mark Holland
Diagnosis probable

Presentation

GP referral for dating scan

Patient Data

Age: 18
Gender: Female
ultrasound

Thickened, hyper-reflective, vascular placenta with focal cystic changes


Case Discussion

molar pregnancy occurs when there is an extra set of paternal chromosomes in a fertilized egg. This error at the time of conception transforms normal placental tissue into a growing cystic mass 

A partial hydatidiform mole has a triploid karyotype in which two of the three chromosomal complements are paternal (diandric monogynic with a majority of 70% being XXY)

  • Ratio of transverse to anteroposterior dimension of gestational sac greater than 1.5 
  • Fetus shows growth restriction in 80%
  • Fetal nuchal translucency thickened in 59% of cases 

Incidence is 2-3 times higher than a complete mole and occurs in 1 of 700 conceptions. Incidence in Southeast Asia is 7 to 10 times higher than in Europe or Australia

Positive stain for p57 and PHLDA2 (complete moles have no immunoreactivity) 

Most partial moles miscarry before 10-12 weeks. Risk of progression to persistent gestational trophoblastic disease is 2-4% and the lungs are most common site of metastasis. Risk of second molar pregnancy is 1.7%

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