Hydatidiform mole

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Uterus

Normal uterine anatomy (cut section)

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Hydatidiform mole

Alternative Names:

Hydatid mole; Molar pregnancy

Symptoms:

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy during the first trimester
Nausea and vomiting, severe enough to require hospitalization in 10% of cases
An abnormal growth in the size of the uterus, for the stage of the pregnancy
- Excessive growth in approximately 1/2 of cases
- Smaller-than-expected growth in approximately 1/3 of cases
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism:
- Rapid heart rate
- Restlessness, nervousness
- Heat intolerance
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loose stools
- Trembling hands
- Skin warmer and more moist than usual
Symptoms similiar to preeclampsia that occur in the 1st trimester or early in the 2nd trimester. (This almost always indicates hydatidiform mole, because preeclampsia is extremely rare this early in normal pregnancies.)
- High blood pressure
- Swelling in feet, ankles, legs
- Proteinuria

Note: All symptoms occur in conjunction with a potential, suspected, or confirmed pregnancy.

Signs and tests:

A pelvic examination may show signs similar to a normal pregnancy, but the uterine size may be abnormal and fetal heart tones are absent. Additionally, some bleeding may be noted.

Tests typically include:

Measurement of serum HCG to confirm pregnancy. Repeated HCG measurements can be used to monitor the rate and consistency of decline if a hydatidiform mole is suspected.
An ultrasound of the pelvis.
A chest X-ray and abdominal CT or MRI will be recommended for some patients.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

Review Date: 10/25/2004
Reviewed By: Peter Chen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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