[A study on ultrasound imaging of invasive mole and choriocarcinoma with regard to clinical significance].

In order to establish the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of trophoblastic tumor, we have performed ultrasonic examination on 32 patients. In 24 out of 32 cases, the focal echo could be detected within the uterus. The ultrasonically estimated volume of the focus was correlated with the level of urinary hCG. Concerning 17 hysterectomized cases, the ultrasound imaging of focuses was quite consistent with the post-operative findings. The echo patterns of these focuses could be classified into 4 types, that is, Type I, massive echogenic; Type II, multiple echo free; Type III, solitary echo free; and Type IV, subserous cystic. Type I echoes were macroscopically recognized to be clot, molar tissue and cancer tissue. In Types II, III and IV, multifarious hemorrhages were proven to be echo sources. The histopathological results showed that it is difficult to discriminate choriocarcinoma from invasive mole clearly by this echo pattern analysis. A notable decrease in focal size and change in echo pattern could be observed after chemotherapy, but these echographic changes were much slower than the rapid response in the urinary hCG value.