Hysterectomy for a molar pregnancy!
This is a resected uterus showing a molar pregnancy, or in more medically appropriate terms a gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Molar pregnancy is an abnormal form of pregnancy in which a non-viable fertilized egg implants in the uterus and will fail to come to term. A molar pregnancy is a gestational trophoblastic disease which grows into a mass in the uterus that has swollen chorionic villi. Even though it isn't an embryo, this growth triggers symptoms of pregnancy. It is the result of a genetic error during the fertilization process, with 2 main types -A benign or malignant types. Benign includes complete and incomplete pregnancies. In the complete form, a single sperm fertilizes an empty ovum so there's no fetal tissue present, while the incomplete form contains fetal tissue due to a normal ovum being fertilized by two sperms. The malignant form gives real troubles, it may progress into invasive moles and in some patients lead to choriocarcinoma with pulmonary and CNS metastasis and trophoblastic pulmonary emboli. Patients typically present with uterine bleeding and hyperemesis gravidarum characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance. Mere's a giveaway to diagnosis, the tissue revealed resembles tiny grapes, a grape-like molar clusters, clearly seen above. Treatment includes evacuation of the uterus, using chemotherapy (e.g. Methotrexate) if malignant, and hysterectomy to treat residual uterine disease and if no other pregnancies are wished.
