The gynecologist's role in preventing overdiagnosis of ectopic molar pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic hydatidiform mole is a rare, yet overdiagnosed, entity. A diagnosis of ectopic molar pregnancy requires close follow-up, has implications on future fertility, and may require chemotherapy. Patients diagnosed with a hydropic abortus do not require hormone surveillance or abstinence from pregnancy for the extended time period generally recommended for patients diagnosed with a complete or partial hydatidiform mole. The correct classification of products of conception is clinically important because each of the three diagnoses has a different potential for malignant transformation.

CASE: A 29-year-old woman, G5P2104, with ectopic pregnancy and without clinical or laboratory data suspicious for molar pregnancy required ancillary histopathologic testing for accurate diagnosis.

CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the vital role of the gynecologist in assimilating information to prevent over-diagnosis of ectopic molar pregnancy. General gynecologists must therefore understand the histopathologic options available for differentiating hydropic products of conception, partial hydatidiform mole and complete hydatidiform mole.