Misdiagnosis of placental mesenchymal dysplasia as pregnancy with hydatidiform mole: A case report and literature review

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Apr 14;102(15):e33438. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033438.

Abstract

Rationale: Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare placental disease frequently associated with severe maternal and/or fetal complications. Its sonographic appearance is very similar to that of a hydatidiform mole. Hence, PMD is easily misdiagnosed as a hydatidiform mole. In this study, we reported the clinical features of PMD and analyzed its relationship to other severe maternal and/or fetal complications.

Patient concerns: A 28-year-old female, gravida 2, para 1, was referred to our maternal and child health hospital at 15 weeks + 2 days due to an ultrasonic diagnosis of partial hydatidiform mole. Analysis of chromosome karyotype + mononucleotide-based gene microarray by amniocentesis at the 19th week of gestation showed that fetal amniocentesis chromosome 46, XN, high-resolution chromosome microarray analysis of Affymetrix CytoScan 750K Array revealed a 210 kb fragment deletion in chromosome 2p16.3 containing NRXN1, an OMIM gene, the deleted fragment was derived from a mother with a normal phenotype. The pregnant woman delivered a healthy baby girl at 36 weeks + 5 days.

Diagnoses: Based on the clinical characteristics, imaging, and genetic test findings, the postoperative diagnosis was PMD.

Intervention: Because of "Scar uterus" and "Pregnancy with hydatidiform mole," a 2490 g female infant was delivered by cesarean section at 36 weeks + 5 days of gestation with an Apgar score of 9/9.

Outcomes: The maternal human chorionic gonadotropin level decreased to the normal range after 10 days of delivery, and the infant was not found abnormal after 3 months of follow-up.

Lessons: From our cases and 19 other cases obtained from the PMD literature review are associated with unique clinical, laboratory, and imaging features compared with a hydatidiform mole, such as stained glass sign, normal serum levels of serum human chorionic gonadotropin, elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels and female fetus.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cesarean Section
  • Child
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydatidiform Mole* / diagnosis
  • Hydatidiform Mole* / pathology
  • Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Placenta / pathology
  • Placenta Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Placenta Diseases* / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin