Molar Pregnancy ultrasound
A molar pregnancy ultrasound is done to help remove a hydatidiform mole which forms an abnormal placenta from a mass of tissue inside the uterus. It happens when there are two or three sets of the father's chromosomes and none from the mother. The mother observes many of the symptoms of pregnancy. This happens in about one out of a thousand cases. There are complete and there are partial molar pregnancies. The complete type is when the mole takes the place of a placenta and embryo and becomes a grape-like cluster. The partial type is when the placenta grows abnormally into molar tissue. When this occurs, the fetal tissue develops, but has severe defects. In rare cases, a normal healthy placenta and fetus grows with a complete mole.
We can't be sure why this happens, but the theories include an abnormal egg with no genetic information gets fertilized, or a normal egg is fertilized by two sperm. There are risk factors involved as well. Age, after 35 the occurrences increase. Family history is another factor if one has had miscarriages. A diet low in vitamin A ( Carotene ) can also increase risk. Common symptoms are vaginal discharge of grape-like tissue. Vaginal bleeding, an enlarged uterus, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, increased heart rate, intolerance to heat, sweating, and pelvic discomfort. A hydatidiform mole is removed using ultrasound to guide the procedure. Afterward, one might consider a hysterectomy because there is an increased risk of cancer. In the case of a normal fetus and a mole, they will monitor it closely and deliver the baby at the soonest possible moment.
A molar pregnancy ultrasound is a rare, but necessary procedure. Back to ultrasound types.
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