Sad Fetus Syndrome: Partial Molar Pregnancy with a Live Fetus

Partial mole with coexistent live fetus: A systematic review of case reports

Objective

Molar pregnancy coexistent with a live fetus can be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. With increasing incidence of multiple pregnancies, there has also been an increase in twin pregnancy with one mole in the recent years. The authors discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and prenatal diagnosis and attempt to design a possible management strategy, to help guide the treating physician, in the management of partial mole with live pregnancy, thereby improving maternal and fetal prognosis.

Material and Methods

Numerous case reports have been published in various journals regarding management of individual cases of partial molar pregnancy coexistent with live fetus (PMCF). Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of all the case reports and short case series in English concerning partial mole with live pregnancy from 1999 to 2019, that is in the last 20 years.

Results

In total, 44 case reports of PMCF were analyzed. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 20+6 (range: 10-40) weeks. Less than half (19/44; 43.2%) were asymptomatic at the time of detection and PMCF was detected on routine scan done for fetal well-being or 11-13-week scan. The majority (56.8%) resulted in the birth of a healthy live fetus. Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia developed in 3/44 (6.8%).

Conclusion

PMCF involves a high risk of bleeding, preterm labour, intrauterine growth restriction and stillbirth. Successful management of such cases needs prenatal diagnosis, antepartum surveillance and post-natal follow-up. An obstetrician, maternal fetal medicine specialist, gynecology oncologist and neonatal intensivist should be involved in the care of such pregnancies.

Partial molar pregnancy with live fetus complicated by intrauterine growth restriction and severe preeclampsia. Case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To report the case of a partial molar pregnancy with live fetus and conduct a review of the literature regarding maternal and fetal complications associated to this condition.

METHODS

Case report of a partial mole with a 33 weeks live fetus complicated by intrauterine growth restriction, oligohydramnios and severe preeclampsia. We report satisfactory maternal and neonatal outcomes and 1-year follow-up. A search was conducted in the Medline via Pubmed, Lilacs, Ovid, Uptodate and Google Scholar databases using the following MESH terms: hiditadiform mole, partial mole, live fetus, coexisting live fetus. Case series and case reports of pregnant women with coexisting partial mole and live fetus at the time of diagnosis were selected and information regarding maternal and fetal prognosis was extracted.

RESULTS

Initially, 129 related titles were identified. Of these, 29 met the inclusion criteria, and 4 articles were excluded due to failed access to the full text. Overall, 31 reported cases were included; 9 ended in miscarriage, 8 in fetal demise or perinatal death, and 14 (45 %) resulted in a live neonate. The most frequent maternal complication was preeclampsia in 6 (19.35 %) cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The coexistence of a partial mole with a live fetus poses a high risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and preeclampsia. The volume of information regarding this rare condition must be increased in order to better determine potential interventions in cases of euploid fetuses and to provide adequate counseling in clinical practice. Therefore, reporting these cases is important to build sufficient evidence about the natural course of this condition.