Hydatidiform mole in university of Calabar teaching hospital, Nigeria.a ten year review

Abstract

Background : Hydatidiform mole is a cause of early trimester miscarriages which if not properly treated may lead to increasing severity of vaginal bleeding and maternal death.Aim: The aim of the study was to review the demographic characterislics of patients with hydatidiform mole, and the clinical outcome in the last decade.Subject, method and material: This was a retrospective review of cases of hydalidiform mole from 1st of January 2004 to 31st of December 2013. The clinical data were retrieved from patients' folders and histologically confirmed cases were analyzed using Epilnfo7 and simple percentages. The total number of deliveries over the study period was obtained from the labour ward register.Results: There were 72 cases of hydatidiform mole giving a prevalence of 3.6 per 1000 deliveries. However only 68 folders contained results of histology. Women of age groups 35-39 years (48.5%) and 15-19 years (26.5%) were those predominantly affected. Vaginal bleeding (85.3%), large for gestational age (57.4%), anaemia (57.4%), passage of vesicles (55.9%) were the most common presentations. Pregnancy test was positive in all the cases. while ultrasononography aided diagnosis in 88.2% of the cases. Suction evacuation was done in all the cases. About 63% of patients had 1-3 months follow up, while 2.9% continued beyond 1 year. The case fatality was 1.47%. However. 12 patients never came back to the hospital after evacuation.Conclusion : Molar pregnancy is a common cause of first trimester miscarriages and contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality in our Centre.Keywords: Hydalidiform mole. presentation. management, UCT