Molar pregnancy Flashcards
1
Q
What is a molar pregnancy?
A
Abnormal fertilization leading to disordered placenta tissue development
2
Q
For a complete mole:
* What it consists of
* Is there fetal tissue
* Incidence
* Risk of malignancy
A
- Empty ovum fertilized with either 1 sperm that replicates (75-80%) OR 2 sperm –> diploid
- No evidence of fetal parts
- Incidence 1/1000
- Risk of malignancy = 15-25%
3
Q
For a partial mole:
* What it consists of
* Is there fetal tissue
* Incidence
* Risk of malignancy
A
- One set of maternal DNA and 2 sets of paternal DNA –> triploid
- Can have some fetal parts
- Incidence 3/1000
- Risk of malignancy = 0.5-4%
4
Q
What investigations should be done for a molar pregnancy?
A
- Bloods –> FBC, UCEs, LFTs, TFTs, G&H
- USS –> diagnosis
- CXR for metastases
- Histological examination of tissue for definitive diagnosis
- Serial serum beta-hCG until negative and ongoing monitoring for 6 months after a complete mole
5
Q
What information should be given to a woman with possible molar pregnancy
A
- Explain a molar pregnancy –> is a precancerous baby and NOT a baby
- Effectively treated with surgery +/- methotrexate
- Depending on the treatment, fertility may need to be postponed but is not affected
- 1/70 chance of recurrent molar pregnancy
