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Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Microsatellite DNA Genotyping and Flow Cytometry Ploidy Analyses of Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Hydatidiform Molar Tissues
Published on: October 20, 2019
[Diagnostic utility of STR genotyping for partial hydatidiform moles]
Bin Chang1, Lixia Lu2, Xingzheng Zheng
1Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China;
Objective:
To investigate the clinical utility of short tandem repeats(STR) genotyping technique for diagnosis of partial hydatidiform moles (PHM).
Methods:
Ten cases with the original diagnosis of PHM and six cases diagnosed as "favour PHM" or "abnormal villous, PHM not excluded" were selected for the study. The clinical information and follow-up data were reviewed. Histopathologic features were evaluated along with p57 immunohistochemistry. After DNA extraction from each sample, genotyping was performed by AmpFlSTR(®) Identifiler™ PCR kit to amplify 15 STR polymorphism loci plus the amelogenin gender-determining in a single robust PCR.
Results:
The age of patients ranged from 18 to 49 years (mean=29 years, median=29 years). Two villous populations (7/16), irregular villous contour (13/16), at least moderate trophoblastic hyperplasia (2/16), cistern formation (8/16), syncytiotrophoblastic knuckles (14/16), trophoblastic pseudoinclusions (6/16) and nucleated fetal red blood cells (8/16) were presented in these cases. Of the cases in the study, STR genotyping identified 4 monospermic complete hydatidiform moles (MCM), 3 dispermic partial hydatidiform moles (DPM) and 9 hydropic abortions (HA). The misdiagnosis rate was 13/16 only relied on morphology evaluation. Immunostaining of p57 showed 3/4 of MCM were focally positive (<5%-20%+), 1/4 of MCM were diffusely positive (70%+), 3/3 of DPM were diffusely positive (≥50%+), 7/9 of HA were diffusely positive (≥50%+), and 2/9 of HA were focally positive (10%+).
Conclusions:
Combination of histomorphologic evaluation and p57 immunostaining is insufficient for a definitive diagnosis of PHM. STR genotyping offers an accurate diagnosis of PHM.
