First trimester molar pregnancy: nonspecific ultrasonographic appearance

Ultrasonographers and gynecologists have come to anticipate not only a high diagnostic sensitivity of ultrasonic detection of hydatidiform mole, but also that the examination will suggest specifically the correct pathologic diagnosis. Although this appears true for molar gestations examined in the second trimester, molar pregnancies detected in the first trimester do not appear to demonstrate the characteristic features necessary to diagnose this abnormality specifically. Three cases of early molar pregnancy examined in the past year with good quality gray-scale ultrasonographic units failed to demonstrate specific diagnostic findings.