Sonographic value in the diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease

Objective: Hydatiform moles are a group of fertilization disorders characterized by an
abnormal growth of chorionic tissues. It has an incidence of 1/347 in Iran. Early diagnosis of
disease is of clinical importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of
sonography in evaluation of Gestational Trophoblastic disease (GTD).
Methodology: A cross sectional hospital based study was designed. A total number of 95 women
with sonography diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease, missed abortion, incomplete
abortion and blighted ovum participated in the study. The patients underwent hysterectomy; the
type of disorders was confirmed by pathology.
Results: Ninety five patients participated in the study with the mean age of 24.05. Eighty nine of
them with Complete Hydatiform Mole (CHM) diagnosis and six of them with Partial
Hydatiform Mole (PHM). There was a 87.5% sensitivity for diagnosis of molar pregnancies
totally when there was 91.3% sensitivity in the diagnosis of CHM and 60% sensitivity in the
diagnosis of PHM.
Conclusion: These findings showed that sonography is an effective diagnostic tool in the
diagnosis of molar pregnancies; however it is more sensitive in the diagnosis of CHM than PHM.
Further studies are warranted to elucidate the role of ultrasonography in future.