Molar pregnancy

Molar Pregnancy
Hydatidiform mole (1) complete type.jpg
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Vaginal bleeding, rapid uterine growth, hyperemesis gravidarum
Complications	Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia
Onset	During pregnancy
Duration	N/A
Types	N/A
Causes	Abnormal fertilization
Risks	N/A
Diagnosis	Ultrasound, hCG levels
Differential diagnosis	N/A
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Dilation and curettage, monitoring of hCG levels
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	N/A
Deaths	N/A

Molar pregnancy, also known as hydatidiform mole, is a rare complication of pregnancy characterized by the abnormal growth of trophoblastic tissue, which normally develops into the placenta. It is a type of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) and can be classified into two types: complete and partial moles.

Types

Complete Molar Pregnancy

A complete molar pregnancy occurs when an egg with no genetic material is fertilized by a sperm. The resulting tissue is abnormal and forms a mass in the uterus. There is no formation of a fetus in complete moles.

Complete hydatidiform mole

Partial Molar Pregnancy

A partial molar pregnancy occurs when a normal egg is fertilized by two sperm, leading to the formation of an abnormal fetus and placenta. The fetus is usually malformed and cannot survive.

Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms of molar pregnancy include:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Rapid uterine growth
• Severe nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum)
• High levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Diagnosis

Molar pregnancy is typically diagnosed through:

• Ultrasound: A "snowstorm" pattern may be seen in complete moles.
• Elevated hCG levels: Higher than expected for the gestational age.

Vesicular mole

Treatment

The primary treatment for molar pregnancy is the surgical removal of the molar tissue through dilation and curettage (D&C). After removal, hCG levels are monitored to ensure that all molar tissue has been removed and to detect any potential development of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Prognosis

With appropriate treatment, the prognosis for molar pregnancy is generally good. However, there is a risk of developing gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, which requires further treatment.

Also see

• Gestational trophoblastic disease
• Choriocarcinoma
• Human chorionic gonadotropin

References

• ACOG Practice Bulletin on Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
• American Cancer Society: Gestational Trophoblastic Disease