Molar Pregnancy (hydatidiform mole) Flashcards
What is a molar pregnancy?
It is when there is a genetic error during the fertilization process that leads to the growth of abnormal tissue within the uterus
What are the types of molar pregnancy? (2)
- Complete mole (no fetal tissue, only trophoblastic tissue)
- Partial mole (abnormal fetal tissue along with trophoblastic tissue)
What causes a complete mole
is caused by a single sperm combining with an egg which has lost its DNA
What is the genotype in a complete mole
is typically 46XX due to subsequent meiosis of fertilizing sperm but can also be 46XY
How does a partial mole occur
occurs when an egg is fertilized by 2 sperms or, by sperm which replicates itself yielding the genotype of 69 XXY or 92 XXXY
What are the clinical features of a complete molar pregnancy? (6)
- Vaginal bleeding (painless 1st trimester bleeding)
- Uterine enlargement greater than dates
- High levels of β-hCG (confirmed pregnancy) which can cause B-hCG mediated endocrine conditions like:
- ovarian theca lutein cysts
- pre eclampsia < 20th week of gestation
- hyperemesis gravidarum
- hyperthyroidism (bcz the alpha subunit of hCG structurally resembles TSH) - lack of FHR
- passage of vesicles with grape like appearance
- pelvic pressure or pain
How is complete molar pregnancy diagnosed (4)
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Ultrasound showing “snowstorm” or “cluster of grapes” appearance (echogenic mass interspersed with many hypoechogenic cystic spaces representing hydropic villi)
- no fetal parts or heartbeat
-absence of amniotic fluid
-ovarian theca lutein cysts - Uterine dilation and evacuation (D&C)
- Histopathological examination: diffuse hydropic villi, marked circumferential trophoblastic proliferation - chest xray in those with pulmonary symptoms
- Extremely high β-hCG levels for gestational age (serum quantitative hCG)
what are risk factors (4)
- prior molar pregnancy
- age <15 years and > 35 years (extremes of age)
- history of miscarriage and infertility
- ethnicity: asians, hispanics, american indians
How do you treat a complete mole
immediate dilation and curettage (D&C) under general anesthesia
What is the pathophysiology of a complete mole (3)
- there is hydropic degeneration of chorionic villi
- proliferation of cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts
- death of embryo
how do you follow up a patient who got rx for complete mole (4)
- obtain a quantitative hCG titer 48hrs
- serial quantitative hCGs weekly until levels are normal for 3 consecutive weeks
- after hCG levels normalized, do serial quantitave hCGs monthly for 6 months
- barrier contraception should be used until hCG normalizes. Hormonal contraception may be used thereafter.
b-hCG is higher in which molar pregnancy
comple molar pregnancy
the risk of subsequent GTN is what and it is higher in which type of molar pregnancy
- 15%-20%
- complete
what are clinical features of partial molar pregnancy (4)
- vaginal bleeding
- pelvic tenderness
- no change in uterine size
- B-hCG mediated endocrine conditions are less common
how can you diagnose partial molar pregnancy (6)
- Pelvic ultrasound:
- fetal parts may be visualized
- FHR may be detectable
- amniotic fluid may be visualized
- increased placental thickness
- multicystic avascular hypoechoic or anechoic spaces- swiss cheese appearance - Uterine D&C
- histopathological examination will show partial occurrence of hydropic villi, minimal trophoblastic proliferation