title: Complete hydatidiform mole in a triplet pregnancy coexisting two viable fetuses: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: We report a rare case of a complete hydatidiform mole with two or more coexisting fetuses where both infants survived without complications. A male infant weighing 1258 g and a female infant weighing 880 g were delivered without complications and discharged 95 days after the birth. The analysis of DNA microsatellite polymorphisms indicated that the mole was of paternal origin and probably homozygous. The mother suffered from multiple pulmonary metastasis of the hydatidiform mole which was detected 3 days after the surgery and was successfully treated with methotrexate. A complete hydatidiform mole with two or more coexisting fetuses produces a dilemma between immediate termination and pregnancy continuation. Although the present case resulted in a favorable outcome, a review of the 14 reported cases suggests that the high fetal loss rate (90%) must be a consideration in the decision regarding management of such a pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Center for Perinatal Medicine, Nagano Children's Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimiyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Nobuya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Unno
authors.forename: Hiro-e M
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hyodo
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyodo
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kashima
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Yoshihumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogiso
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noike
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiobara
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014310:Triplets; D014463:Ultrasonography