Gestational trophoblastic disease Flashcards
What is a complete molar pregnancy?
most common type of gestational trophoblastic disease and most common type of molar pregnancy - it is a diploid cell which most commonly forms by one sperm fertilises an empty egg and then duplicates only parternal DNA or two sperm fertilise an empty egg (more Rare) - there is no fetus and the abnormality arises in the syncytiotrophoblast
What is a partial molar pregnancy?
Less common than a complete molar pregnancy, arises most commonly from dispermic fertilisations of a normal egg resulting in a triploidy, but it can also arise from tetrploidy - will result in a fetus or fetal blood cells, but is incompatible with life and the abnormality arises in the cytotrophoblast
What are the clinical features of a molar pregnancy?
Increased secretion of BHCG leads to hyperemesis, vaginal bleeding and a uterus that is too large for dates. BHCG is an analogous hormone to FSH, LH and TSH and therefore can induce hyperhtyroidism, and thecal lutein cysts. In rare cases the disease cause pre-eclampsia or metastatic consequences (resp failure/seizure)
How is a molar pregnancy diagnosed?
Suggestive features on ultrasound, raised BHCG and associated symptoms, definitive diagnosis is histological following D&C
