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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staff
If your doctor suspects a molar pregnancy, he or she may order a blood test to measure the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) — a pregnancy hormone — in your blood. He or she will also likely do an ultrasound.
With a standard ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves are directed at the tissues in the abdominal and pelvic area. During early pregnancy, however, the uterus and fallopian tubes are closer to the vagina than to the abdominal surface, so the ultrasound may be done through a wand-like device placed in your vagina.
An ultrasound of a complete molar pregnancy — which can be detected as early as eight or nine weeks of pregnancy — may show:
- No embryo or fetus
- No amniotic fluid
- A thick cystic placenta nearly filling the uterus
- Ovarian cysts
An ultrasound of a partial molar pregnancy may show:
- A growth-restricted fetus
- Low amniotic fluid
- A thick cystic placenta
If your health care provider detects a molar pregnancy, he or she will check for other medical problems, including:
- Preeclampsia
- Hyperthyroidism
- Anemia
- Early pregnancy loss: Miscarriage and molar pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/faq/faq090.cfm. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
- Ectopic and molar pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/Baby/loss_ectopic.html. Accessed Oct. 3, 2011.
- Copeland LJ, et al. Malignant diseases and pregnancy. In: Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1528/0.html. Accessed Oct. 3, 2011.
- Garner EIO. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Management of hydatidiform mole. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
- Kindelberger DW, et al. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Pathology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
- Chiang JW, et al. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
- Garner EIO. Malignant gestational trophoblastic disease: Staging and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
- Kavanagh JJ, et al. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Hydatidiform mole, nonmetastatic and metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumor: Diagnosis and management. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed Oct. 5, 2011.
- Dilation and curettage. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/faq/faq062.cfm. Accessed Oct. 5, 2011.
- Al-Hussaini TK, et al. Recurrent pregnancy loss due to familial and non-familial habitual molar pregnancy. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2003;83:179.
- Soper JT, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease: ACOG practice bulletin No. 53. Gynecologic Oncology. 2004;93:575.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 9, 2011.
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