Complete hydatidiform mole in a perimenopausal woman with a subsequent severe thyriotoxicosis

Giant complete hydatidiform mole: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

This case describes the youngest patient documented in the literature who presented with a giant hydatidiform mole, effectively addressed through conservative treatment.

CASE PRESENTATION

Our department received a 20-year-old Caucasian patient who was admitted due to significant metrorrhagia in an undisclosed pregnancy. During examination, we identified a massive, highly vascularized hydatidiform mole measuring 22 cm (cm). We performed a surgical dilatation and curettage. The anatomopathological findings confirmed the presence of a complete hydatidiform mole (CHM). Following the established guidelines, we conducted weekly monitoring of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Unfortunately, the patient discontinued the follow-up and became pregnant again before achieving hCG negativation.

CONCLUSION

This case suggests that conservative treatment is a viable option regardless of the size of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), especially when the preservation of fertility is a crucial consideration, as effectively demonstrated in our case.

Multidisciplinary perioperative management in dilatation and evacuation for a giant hydatidiform mole: A case report

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is an abnormal pregnancy caused by the placenta, which can potentially metastasise. Suction evacuation is recommended for diagnosis and treatment, and dilatation and evacuation (D&E) is usually performed under intravenous anaesthesia due to the short operation time and minimal blood loss. We refer to the guidelines produced by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (JSOG), and acknowledge that practices vary globally. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence on perioperative management and arrangements in D&E required for managing giant hydatidiform moles, such as preventing massive haemorrhage, respiratory dysfunction with a pathogenesis like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), or intensive care needs. This case report describes perioperative considerations for managing a giant hydatidiform mole using D&E in a uterus enlarged to the third-trimester pregnancy size. A 28-year-old multiparous woman was clinically diagnosed with a hydatidiform mole after a spontaneous miscarriage due to abnormal genital bleeding, systemic oedema, and abdominal distention. Ultrasound and computed tomography showed a ballooning uterus with a third-trimester pregnancy size, a robust intrauterine mass, and ascites. Serum hCG levels were extremely high (>3,000,000 mIU/mL), confirming the clinical diagnosis of a hydatidiform mole. Emergency D&E was safely performed under multidisciplinary perioperative management, with careful preparation and support. This is a rare experience-based case report and valuable documentation detailing multidisciplinary perioperative management under general anaesthesia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the considerations, details, and innovations required in the perioperative management of giant hydatidiform moles using D&E.

Severe Hyperthyroidism and Complete Hydatidiform Mole in Perimenopausal Woman: Case Report and Literature Review

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders within placental trophoblastic cells that are rather rare in perimenopausal ages. One of its complications is the development of secondary clinical hyperthyroidism, which can be potentially complicated if not properly and early recognized. We report the case of a 50-year-old perimenopausal woman, gravida 2 para 2, who presented to the emergency department with severe acute lower abdominal pain and abnormal uterine bleeding for one month. She also reported abnormal sweating and palpitation for a one-week duration and amenorrhea for the previous three months. Abdominal examination showed a pelvic mass resembling a 15-week sized uterus. Serum β-hCG levels were strongly increased, and abdomen ultrasound displayed an enlarged uterus with “snow-storm” features, compatible with the diagnosis of GTD. Laboratory data revealed suppressed TSH levels and high free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine levels (4 and 1.5 times above the upper limit of normality, respectively). Thyrotropin-receptor antibodies (TRAb) levels were negative, and thyroid ultrasound excluded major structural disease. She was managed with anti-thyroid drugs, Lugol’s iodine, beta-blockers, and steroids during preoperative care. Thereafter, she underwent surgery, being diagnosed with a hydatidiform mole postoperatively. Her thyroid function returned to normal after three months, without the further need for antithyroid drugs. This case highlights the importance of considering GTD as an aetiology for thyrotoxicosis in perimenopausal women, especially in the absence of findings suggesting primary thyroid disease.

Perimenopausal giant hydatidiform mole complicated with preeclampsia and hyperthyroidism: A case report and literature review

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) commonly occurs in reproductive females, but is extremely rare in perimenopausal females. In this study, we reported a case of hydatidiform mole in a 48-year-old perimenopausal female admitted due to a giant uterine mass of 28 weeks' gestational size. The serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level ranged from 944 to 1,286 mIU/mL before treatments. The signs of preeclampsia and hyperthyroidism were relatively prominent. Hysterectomy was performed and chemotherapy was scheduled when the serum HCG level remained at a plateau, about 528 mIU/mL. The symptoms of preeclampsia and hyperthyroidism were relieved after treatment. Accordingly, we concluded that GTD could occur in perimenopausal woman and hysterectomy usually is the optimal treatment.

Recurrent Thyroid Storm Caused by a Complete Hydatidiform Mole in a Perimenopausal Woman

Background

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) which includes hydatidiform mole, invasive mole, placental site trophoblastic tumor, and choriocarcinoma is a rare cause of hyperthyroidism due to excess production of placental human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone (hCG) by tumor cells. Molecular mimicry between hCG and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) leads to continuous stimulation of TSH receptor by extremely high levels of hCG seen in these tumors. Consequently, biochemical and clinical hyperthyroidism ensues and it is potentially complicated by thyrotoxic crisis which is fatal unless urgent therapeutic steps are undertaken. Case Description. We present a 49-year-old perimenopausal woman who presented with recurrent thyroid storm and high output cardiac failure. The initial workup revealed suppressed TSH, high-free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels with increased vascularity of the normal-sized thyroid on ultrasonography. She was managed with parenteral beta blockers, steroids, and high-dose carbimazole. Her lower abdominal tenderness led to further investigations which revealed tremendously elevated beta-hCG and a snow storm appearance on transabdominal ultrasound suggestive of GTD. She underwent curative surgery and was diagnosed with complete hydatidiform mole postoperatively by histology.

Conclusion

Recurrent thyroid crisis in gestational trophoblastic disease is an exceedingly rare presentation and that is highly fatal. This case highlights the importance of early detection and treatment of the etiology of thyrotoxicosis to eliminate mortality.

Invasive mole in a perimenopausal woman: a case report and systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a term used for a group of pregnancy-related tumors. We present a case of a perimenopausal woman with invasive mole. A systematic review was performed to identify reports on GTD in older women and to determine adequate treatment options.

CASE

A 51-year-old perimenopausal woman was admitted to hospital with abdominal feeling of pressure and nausea. Diagnostic curettage revealed hydatidiform mole. She also presented symptomatic hyperthyroidism with hypertensive blood pressure and uneasiness. After treatment with beta blockers and carbimazole, the patient underwent abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral oophorosalpingectomy. Histopathological examination confirmed an invasive hydatidiform mole (IHM). Serum β-hCG has decreased from initially 300,000-100 unit/L after 4 weeks.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic review was performed to identify all prior cases of GTD in women over 50. We searched in Medline, The Cochrane Library and Embase, to identify any articles published in the English language after 1970 and before Oct 31, 2013 pertaining to GTD in older woman (50 years or older).

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS

Ten records were included in the systematic review, involving 203 cases of trophoblastic disease in older women. Although the diagnosis of GTD in older women is rare, it should be considered especially in patients with suspicious intrauterine findings in transvaginal ultrasound examinations. Different treatments were performed. In a limited number of reports, older women with GTD underwent initial hysterectomy. Benefits are avoidance of chemotherapy-induced toxicity and reduced risk of recurrence. Hysterectomy should be performed by an experienced surgeon.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that GTD is very rare in peri- or postmenopausal women. Treatment has to be individualized, and hysterectomy can be considered as an appropriate option.

Hyperthyroidism and human chorionic gonadotrophin production in gestational trophoblastic disease

Background:

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a rare complication of pregnancy, ranging from molar pregnancy to choriocarcinoma. Patients with persistent disease require treatment with chemotherapy. For the vast majority, prognosis is excellent. Occasionally, GTD is complicated by hyperthyroidism, which may require treatment. This is thought to occur due to molecular mimicry between human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and hence cross-reactivity with the TSH receptor. Hyperthyroidism usually resolves as the GTD is successfully treated and correspondingly HCG levels normalise.

Methods:

This paper reviews cases of GTD treated over a 5-year period at one of the three UK centres and identifies the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in this population. Four cases with clinical hyperthyroidism are discussed.

Results:

On review of the 196 patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia treated with chemotherapy in Sheffield since 2005, 14 (7%) had biochemical hyperthyroidism. Of these, four had evidence of clinical hyperthyroidism.

Conclusion:

Concomitant biochemical thyroid disease in patients with GTD is relatively common, and measurement of thyroid function in patients with persistent GTD is, therefore, important. The development of hyperthyroidism is largely influenced by the level of HCG and disease burden, and usually settles with treatment of the persistent GTD. However, rarely the thyroid stimulation can have potentially life-threatening consequences.