PARTIAL HYDATID MOLE IN A CYTOGENETICALLY NORMAL FETUS

The diagnosis of a partial hydatid mole presents a difficult situation for both physician and parents. On the one hand there may be a normal pregnancy whereas on the other hand the mother may be threatened by numerous complications caused by the hydatid mole if the pregnancy is continued. We report on a pregnancy in the 18th week during which a partial hydatid mole was discovered where we considered it justified to advise the parents, after a thorough consultation, to continue with the pregnancy. Ultrasound examination had excluded infaust malformations whereas cytogenetically there was no triploidy of the fetus. Moreover it was possible to closely monitor the course of pregnancy to discover any possible complications well in time. Under these conditions continuation of pregnancy until birth is possible in about 60 % of the cases without enhanced risk to the mother, as is evident from the data in the literature. In the case under report, however there was a life-threatening uterine haemorrhage with placenta previa in the 22nd week of pregnancy resulting in mandatory premature termination of pregnancy. Repeated treatment with cytostatics was subsequently required due to persistence of the mole, since even hysterectomy could not achieve complete remission of the disease.