Partial mole with a diploid fetus: case study and literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To describe an extremely rare case of a partial hydatidiform mole with a normal fetus. The etiology and clinical management of this entity are discussed.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
We describe a rare case of partial mole and a living fetus of diploid karyotype and biparental origin confirmed by flow cytometry and PCR techniques. No malformations were observed, beta-hCG levels were high (>100,000 mIU/ml) and persistent trophoblastic disease did eventually occur.


CONCLUSIONS
A suspected partial mole on ultrasound with increased beta-hCG and a sonographically normal living fetus of a diploid karyotype poses a dilemma for clinical management. Termination of pregnancy is not indicated if the fetus is normal; in fact, continuation to birth is possible in nearly 60% of cases with no increase in maternal risks when the patient is closely monitored after birth until beta-hCG is negative. In the case presented, however, a spontaneous abortion occurred at 21 weeks' gestation, possibly as a result of the amniocentesis.
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca Teaching Hospital, ES-30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain. marisasanchezf @yahoo.es
María Luisa
ML
Sánchez-Ferrer
Belén
B
Ferri
María Teresa
MT
Almansa
Pablo
P
Carbonel
Isabel
I
López-Expósito
Alfredo
A
Minguela
Lorenzo
L
Abad
Juan José
JJ
Parrilla
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000328:Adult; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography
D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human