Histopathologic image of hydatidiform mole (complete type). H&E stain.
Specialty
Obstetrics
A molar pregnancy, also known as a hydatidiform mole, is an abnormal form of pregnancy in which a non-viable fertilized egg implants in the uterus. It falls under the category of gestational trophoblastic diseases.[1] During a molar pregnancy, the uterus contains a growing mass characterized by swollen chorionic villi, resembling clusters of grapes.[2] The occurrence of a molar pregnancy can be attributed to the fertilized egg lacking an original maternal nucleus. As a result, the products of conception may or may not contain fetal tissue. These molar pregnancies are categorized into two types: partial moles and complete moles, where the term 'mole' simply denotes a clump of growing tissue or a ‘growth'.
A complete mole is caused by either a single sperm (90% of the time) or two sperm (10% of the time) combining with an egg that has lost its DNA. In the former case, the sperm reduplicates, leading to the formation of a "complete" 46-chromosome set.[3] Typically, the genotype is 46,XX (diploid) due to subsequent mitosis of the fertilizing sperm, but it can also be 46,XY (diploid).[3] However, 46,YY (diploid) is not observed. On the other hand, a partial mole occurs when a normal egg is fertilized by one or two sperm, which then reduplicates itself, resulting in genotypes of 69,XXY (triploid) or 92,XXXY (tetraploid).[3]
Complete moles carry a 2–4% risk, in Western countries, of developing into choriocarcinoma and a higher risk of 10–15% in Eastern countries, with an additional 15% risk of becoming an invasive mole. In contrast, incomplete moles can become invasive as well but are not associated with choriocarcinoma.[3] Notably, complete hydatidiform moles account for 50% of all cases of choriocarcinoma.
Molar pregnancies are relatively rare complications of pregnancy, occurring in approximately 1 in 1,000 pregnancies in the United States, while in Asia, the rates are considerably higher, reaching up to 1 in 100 pregnancies in countries like Indonesia.[4]
^"About molar pregnancy | Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) | Cancer Research UK". www.cancerresearchuk.org. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
^"hydatidiform mole". Merriam Webster. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
^ abcdKumar V, ed. (2010). Pathologic Basis of Disease (8th ed.). Saunders Elsevier. pp. 1057–1058. ISBN 978-1-4377-0792-2.
^Di Cintio E, Parazzini F, Rosa C, Chatenoud L, Benzi G (November 1997). "The epidemiology of gestational trophoblastic disease". General & Diagnostic Pathology. 143 (2–3): 103–8. PMID 9443567.
A molarpregnancy, also known as a hydatidiform mole, is an abnormal form of pregnancy in which a non-viable fertilized egg implants in the uterus. It...
form the placenta during pregnancy. There are several different types of GTD. A hydatidiform mole also known as a molarpregnancy, is the most common and...
management. Dilation and evacuation is also a treatment option for a molarpregnancy, especially for those who wish to maintain fertility. The procedure...
of pregnancy Failed attempted termination of pregnancy Complications following ectopic and molarpregnancy Stillbirth Perinatal death "Pregnancy with...
abortion, caused by pollution or chemical exposures Implantation failure Molarpregnancy Embryo loss Fetal resorption Blighted ovum Vanishing twin Stillbirth...
tissues. These are all tissues which are found in a normal pregnancy. In the case of a molarpregnancy, these components will not be found. Post-treatment care...
surgical management of miscarriage. Pregnancy loss is a broad term that is used for miscarriage, ectopic and molarpregnancies. The term foetal death applies...
the main form of hCG associated with the majority of pregnancy and in non-invasive molarpregnancies. This is produced in the trophoblast cells of the placental...
Mulberry molars (also known as Moon or Fournier molars) are a dental condition usually associated with congenital syphilis, characterized by multiple...
lutein cysts are associated with gestational trophoblastic disease (molarpregnancy), choriocarcinomas, and multiple gestations. In some cases, these cysts...
and after any type of pregnancy event, though risk of the disease is higher in and after complete or partial molarpregnancies. Risk of disease may also...
ectopic pregnancies, provided the fallopian tube has not ruptured. Methotrexate with dilation and curettage is used to treat molarpregnancy. Rarely,...
adrenocortical hormones. hPL values increase with multiple pregnancies, intact molarpregnancy, diabetes and Rh incompatibility. They are decreased with...
Ectopic pregnancy is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus. Signs and symptoms classically include abdominal pain...
Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestates) inside a woman's uterus (womb). A multiple pregnancy involves more than one...
scan may be needed to know gestational status and to exclude molar or partial molarpregnancy. Dry, bland food and oral rehydration are first-line treatments...
sperms. The hCG test can be used to screen for uterus cancer, or a molarpregnancy, which is when there is abnormal placental growth in the uterus. The...
present in morning sickness. Nausea and vomiting may also occur with molarpregnancy. Morning sickness is related to diets low in cereals and high in sugars...
as a partial mole pregnancy can cause triploidy. It is known to cause early termination, cancer, and even a second molarpregnancy.[medical citation needed]...
Akihide (October 2014). "Ovary hyperstimulation syndrome accompanying molarpregnancy: case report and review of the literature". Archives of Gynecology...
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage...
Hypertensive disease of pregnancy, also known as maternal hypertensive disorder, is a group of high blood pressure disorders that include preeclampsia...
A pregnancy test is used to determine whether a female is pregnant or not. The two primary methods are testing for the female pregnancy hormone (human...
risks to the mother (e.g., miscarriage, blighted ovum, ectopic pregnancy, or a molarpregnancy condition) Check for fetal malformation (e.g., club foot, spina...
unintended pregnancy. Worldwide, the unintended pregnancy rate is approximately 45% of all pregnancies (for a total of 120 million unintended pregnancies annually)...
The term cryptic pregnancy is used by medical professionals to describe a pregnancy that is not recognized by the person who is pregnant until they are...
miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molarpregnancy, incompetent cervix, uterine rupture, and preterm labor. Bleeding in early pregnancy may be a sign of a...
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