Second Trimester Partial Hydatidiform Mole

Abstract

The hydatidiform mole coexisting with a living fetus is a rare entity that is characterized by hydropic degeneration of the chorionic villi, hyperplasia of the trophoblast and macroscopic evidence of a fetus. The objective of the study was to describe the clinical case of a patient with a diagnosis of partial mole and gestational age of 23 weeks. We present a 31-year-old patient referred for perinatology consultation with 22.5 weeks of gestation, high blood pressure, plus sign and ultrasound with 20 weeks describing placenta with venous lakes; and history of high alpha-fetoprotein. In the hospital, her condition worsened with aggravated preeclampsia, and with an evolving ultrasound, that describes a 71 mm placenta with multiple venous lakes. Possible trophoblastic disease arises and is discussed for termination of pregnancy. Micro-cesarean surgery was performed, a female fetus weighing 600 grams was obtained, a placenta of 400 grams with multiple vesicles that resemble partial mole. This diagnosis is later confirmed with histopathological study. In partial mole, the embryo rarely survives until the second trimester. If cytogenetic tests are not performed, they may not be diagnosed because the histological changes are usually subtle. The clinic, the beta fraction of the chorionic gonadotropin and the study of the placenta, the fetus or both, are the ones that will make the definitive diagnosis to determine the follow-up and decrease the complications.