Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Gestational trophoblastic disease is one form of abnormal pregnancy, with a median maternal age of 27–28 years. One complication of trophoblastic disease is the development of a secondary hyperthyroidism, which resolves rapidly after evacuation of the hydatidiform mole.

Case report

We report a case of a 53-year-old woman presenting with a complete hydatidiform mole and who developed a severe thyrotoxicosis after suction evacuation of the hydatidiform mole.

Conclusion

A severe thyriotoxicosis can occur even after surgical evacuation of the mole. Therefore, evaluation of the thyroid function prior to operation, especially with a high quantitative hCG, should be performed to avoid severe complications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Soper JT (2006) Gestational trophoblastic disease. Obstet Gynecol 108:176–187

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bandy LC, Clarke-Pearson DL, Hammond CB (1984) Malignant potential of gestational trophoblastic disease at the extreme ages of reproductive life. Obstet Gynecol 64:395–399

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Garcia M, Romaguera RL, Gomez-Fernandez C (2004) A hydatidiform mole in a postmenopausal woman. A case report and review of the literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med 128:1039–1042

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. de la Fouchardiere A, Cassignol A, Benkiran L, Rudigoz RC, Gougeon A, Devouassoux-Shisheboran M (2003) Invasive hydatiform mole in a postmenopausal woman. Ann Pathol 23:443–446

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lok CA, Zurcher AF, van der Velden J (2005) A case of a hydatidiform mole in a 56-year-old woman. Int J Gynecol Cancer 15:163–166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hirst J, Ferrier A (2004) Post-menopausal bleeding: hydatidiform mole a rare cause. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 44:462–463

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Davidson SA, Gottesfeld J, La Rosa FG (1997) Molar pregnancy in a 60-year-old woman. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 56:53–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Maudsley RF, Robertson EM (1965) Hydatidiform mole in a woman over 52 years old. Report of a case. Obstet Gynecol 26:542–543

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Kato K, Mostafa MH, Mann K, Schindler AE, Hoermann R (2004) The human chorionic gonadotropin molecule from patients with trophoblastic diseases has a high thyrotropic activity but is less active in the ovary. Gynecol Endocrinol 18:269–277

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Moore-Maxwell CA, Robboy SJ (2004) Placental site trophoblastic tumor arising from antecedent molar pregnancy. Gynecol Oncol 92:708–712

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Narasimhan KL, Ghobrial MW, Ruby EB (2002) Hyperthyroidism in the setting of gestational trophoblastic disease. Am J Med Sci 323:285–287

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hershman JM (1999) Human chorionic gonadotropin and the thyroid: hyperemesis gravidarum and trophoblastic tumors. Thyroid 9:653–657

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Misra M, Levitsky LL, Lee MM (2002) Transient hyperthyroidism in an adolescent with hydatidiform mole. J Pediatr 140:362–366

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Steigrad SJ (2003) Epidemiology of gestational trophoblastic diseases. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 17:837–847

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Coukos G, Makrigiannakis A, Chung J, Randall TC, Rubin SC, Benjamin I (1999) Complete hydatidiform mole. A disease with a changing profile. J Reprod Med 44:698–704

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fowler DJ, Lindsay I, Seckl MJ, Sebire NJ (2006) Routine pre-evacuation ultrasound diagnosis of hydatidiform mole: experience of more than 1000 cases from a regional referral center. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 27:56–60

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Tidy JA, Gillespie AM, Bright N, Radstone CR, Coleman RE, Hancock BW (2000) Gestational trophoblastic disease: a study of mode of evacuation and subsequent need for treatment with chemotherapy. Gynecol Oncol 78:309–312

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hershman JM (2004) Physiological and pathological aspects of the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin on the thyroid. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 18:249–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ngowngarmratana S, Sunthornthepvarakul T, Kanchanawat S (1997) Thyroid function and human chorionic gonadotropin in patients with hydatidiform mole. J Med Assoc Thai 80:693–699

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Laurent V, Besson L, Doussin JF, Rondelet B, Banssillon V (1993) Hyperthyroidism induced by molar pregnancy. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 12:424–427

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gerulath AH, Ehlen TG, Bessette P, Jolicoeur L, Savoie R (2002) Gestational trophoblastic disease. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 24:434–446

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany

    Lena Struthmann, Margit Günthner-Biller, Florian Bergauer, Klaus Friese & Ioannis Mylonas

Authors
  1. Lena Struthmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Margit Günthner-Biller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Florian Bergauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Klaus Friese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ioannis Mylonas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ioannis Mylonas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Struthmann, L., Günthner-Biller, M., Bergauer, F. et al. Complete hydatidiform mole in a perimenopausal woman with a subsequent severe thyriotoxicosis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 279, 411–413 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0734-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0734-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation