title: Clinicopathologic differences between diploid and tetraploid complete hydatidiform moles.
abstract: Complete hydatiform moles (CHM) may be are diploid or tetraploid. The proportions vary in the literature. To date, there has not been a systematic characterization of these two types. This study is a retrospective investigation of clinicopathologic differences between diploid and tetraploid CHMs. Thirteen formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded CHMs were analyzed for DNA content by flow cytometry (FC). Using standard flow cytometric definitions, histograms were classified as FC-diploid or FC-tetraploid (4N peak > or = 15% of 2N peak and cell cycle events to 8N) and compared with respect to selected clinical and pathologic features. Eight CHMs (61%) met the criteria of tetraploidy by flow cytometry, although all five FC-diploid cases harbored minor (< 15%) tetraploid subpopulations. Patients with tetraploid moles were older (mean age 32.8 years vs. 19.6 years, p < 0.005), presented at lower preevacuation gestational ages (12.7 weeks vs. 15.4 weeks, p < 0.05), had higher mean serum beta-HCG levels (2.82 x 10(5) i.u. vs. 0.99 x 10(5) i.u., p = 0.07), and higher DNA S-phase fractions (17.9% vs. 7.0%, p = 0.002). No significant differences were found in other histological features. No moles recurred. In this small sample of CHMs, tetraploidy was common. Compared with the FC-diploid CHMs, FC-tetraploid CHMs occurred in older patients with lower gestational age, higher serum beta-HCG levels, and higher DNA S-phase fraction by flow cytometry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bewtra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frankforter
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Marcus
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008940:Mitotic Index; D011123:Polyploidy; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human