Hydatidiform moles at Waikato Women's Hospital, 1971-85

A retrospective study was made of 61 patients who had hydatidiform moles diagnosed at Waikato Women's Hospital, from 1971 to 1985. The incidence of molar pregnancy was 1 in 700 deliveries. Following the introduction of the National Trophoblastic Disease Register in 1980, the use of a standard surveillance schedule greatly improved the completeness of follow-up. To date, of 29 patients followed-up by serum beta hCG monitoring, 3/20 (15%) classic moles and 0/9 partial moles have required chemotherapy for persistent trophoblastic activity. No cases of histologically proven postmolar choriocarcinoma were recorded.