Complete and partial hydatidiform mole in Hawaii: cytogenetics, morphology and epidemiology

The results of a 5 year prospective cytogenetic and epidemiologic investigation of complete and partial hydatidiform mole are described. A total of 40 complete and 88 partial moles were identified by pathologic criteria in a population of 1602 spontaneous abortions. Cytogenetic observations confirmed the close correlation between chromosome constitution and histopathologic type, virtually all the complete moles were paternal parthenogenones and virtually all the partial moles were triploid. The distributions of maternal age, race, place of birth and socioeconomic status were the same in women with partial moles and in the control population of spontaneous abortions. However, the incidence of complete moles was significantly increased in women aged less than 20 years and also in Filipino women, these two effects being independent of one another.