Partial hydatidiform mole

Abstract

Objective: To identify the cytogenetic origin, clinical characteristics and natural history of partial hydatidiform moles and to outline their management. Design: Literature review on partial hydatidiform mole with special emphasis on partial moles with coexistent living fetuses. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: Partial hydatidiform mole is more common than the complete mole, often presenting with spontaneous or missed abortion. the incidence of persistent trophoblastic tumour following partial mole was found to be 3.6% Seventy-three point eight percent of patients with partial moles have a triploid chromosomal configuration. However 25 live births with diploid karyotypes and normal phenotyypes have been delivered of mothers with coexisting molar pregnancy. Conclusions: The diagnosis of partial mole is often missed as most patients present with abortions. The partial mole is considered a less virulent form of molar pregnancy, however after evacuation or delivery patients must be monitored by regular HCG measurements, since there is a possibility of developing persistent trophoblastic tumours. In managing patients with partial hydatidiform mole with a coexistent living fetus, the pregnancy should be continued until fetal maturity is reached provided the fetal karyotype obtained on amniocentesis is normal, there is no evidence of fetal abnormalities on ultrasonography and the clinical course is stable.