THE CLINICOPATHOLOGIC PROFILE OF THE PARTIAL HYDATIDIFORM MOLE

Abstract

After delineating the complete and partial hydatidiform moles as 2 separate entities on the basis of morphology and cytogenetics, 201 molar pregnancies were studied to characterize the clinicopathologic profile of the partial mole syndrome. This was done mainly by comparison and contrast with the established and more familiar syndrome of the classic complete mole. The partial mole syndrome displays most of the pathologic and clinical features of the classic mole and seems to represent a milder, dilute version of the latter. This applies to placental morphology, to the fate of the embryo/fetus, and to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, and to the incidence and severity of clinically persistent trophoblastic disease. Preeclampsia can be equally severe in both syndromes, but tends to occur later in patients with partial mole. No metastatic disease was encountered in association with partial moles and no case of overt choriocarcinoma has yet been described. The occurrence of trophoblastic disease (as determined by postoperative hCG titers) following partial moles requires further inquiry, including study of the pathology of the underlying lesion(s), which remain virtually unexplored.