Complete mole coexistent with a twin fetus

Tomonori Ogura1, Hidenori Katoh, Shoji Satoh

  • 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan. ogura@med.kyushu-u.ac.jp

We report two cases of a complete hydatidiform mole coexistent with a live fetus diagnosed by DNA polymorphism analysis. A 27-year-old woman revealed symptoms of pre-eclampsia and ultrasound showed multicystic tumor and placenta coexistent with a live fetus at 16 weeks' gestation. The placenta with partly hydropic change and the fetus without anomaly were consequently evacuated. Another 30-year-old woman had a multicystic mass attached to a normal placenta with a 20-week live fetus on ultrasound examination. A hysterotomy was carried out because of persistent bleeding due to placenta previa. In both cases, DNA was extracted from the placental tissue and the tumor, as well as from maternal and paternal blood. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the placental tumor consisted of only paternal origin, which is consistent with the diagnosis of complete hydatidiform mole.

Related Concept Videos

Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...
Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
In Vitro Fertilization01:24

In Vitro Fertilization

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology where an egg is fertilized with sperm in a controlled laboratory environment before transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. This process is designed to help individuals and couples experiencing difficulties conceiving.
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
Uterine Tubes01:16

Uterine Tubes

The uterine or fallopian tubes function as the conduit through which oocytes travel from the ovaries to the uterus. Each fallopian tube measures approximately 10 to 13 cm long and is anatomically divided into the infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus, and interstitial part (or intramural segment). The infundibulum is characterized by its funnel shape and features extensions called fimbriae which reach towards the peritoneal cavity. These fimbriae play a critical role during ovulation as they extend...
Cleavage and Blastulation01:33

Cleavage and Blastulation

After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.