COMPLETE HYDATIDIFORM MOLE WITH A COEXISTENT EMBRYO

We describe a case of a complete hydatidiform mole with a coexistent e mbryo. A 19-year-old Hispanic woman presented with an intrauterine pre gnancy at 7 weeks gestational age. An ultrasound evaluation at that ti me showed a gestational sac and fetal heart activity was observed. Fou r weeks later, subsequent ultrasound study revealed no evidence of an embryo, and a pattern consistent with a hydatidiform mole. Dilation an d curettage was subsequently performed that showed a classic hydatidif orm mole on histological examination. Chromosome analysis revealed a n ormal 46,XX karyotype, DNA was extracted from the placental tissue, as well as maternal and paternal blood. Molecular genetic analysis was p erformed with four variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) probes and showed the placental tissue to consist of only paternal DNA with two genomic copies of each allele studied. These findings are consistent w ith the diagnosis of complete hydatidiform mole and its origin from an empty ovum fertilized by a single sperm. This is the first reported c ase of a living embryo coexistent with a complete hydatidiform mole do cumented by genetic: analysis. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Com pany.