Do nontriploid partial hydatidiform moles exist? A histologic and flow cytometric reevaluation of nontriploid specimens.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether nontriploid partial hydatidiform moles truly exist.


METHODS
We conducted a reevaluation of pathology and ploidy in 19 putative nontriploid partial hydatidiform moles using standardized histologic diagnostic criteria and repeat flow cytometric testing by the Hedley technique.


RESULTS
On review of the 19 moles, 53% (10/19) were diploid nonpartial moles (initially pathologically misclassified), and 37% (7/19) were triploid partial moles (initial ploidy misclassifications). One additional case (5%) was a diploid early complete mole (initially pathologically misclassified).


CONCLUSIONS
Nontriploid partial moles probably do not exist: careful reevaluation of putative specimens will probably uncover pathologic or ploid errors in almost all cases.
Genest
David R
DR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New England Trophoblastic Disease Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. dgenest@partners.org
Ruiz
Robert E
RE
Weremowicz
Stana
S
Berkowitz
Ross S
RS
Goldstein
Donald P
DP
Dorfman
David M
DM
D001900:Boston; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000592:standards; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011123:Polyploidy; D011247:Pregnancy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology