Histopathological examination of products of conception after first-trimester miscarriage

Abstract

Introduction This study is aimed to determine the value of histopathological examination of tissues obtained from evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC) procedure. In addition, it is also aimed to determine the correlation between ultrasonically suspected Hydaditiform mole (H Mole) with histopathologically proven H Mole. Methodology In this retrospective study, clinical records of 140 patients who underwent surgical management for early pregnancy loss, from January 2012 to June 2017 were analysed. Their histopathology reports and relevant clinical profiles were collected from medical records. Results The age distribution of studied population ranges from 14 to 52 years. The majority of patients (43.6%) were within 21-30 years. The Molar pregnancy was confirmed in 32.8% samples and the majority (78.3%) were dominated by complete mole. There were 66 patients ultrasonically suspected to have H Mole. Among them 46 patients had either complete or partial mole. Further, this study showed no molar pregnancies were identified from specimens obtained following evacuation of ultrasonically diagnosed missed or incomplete miscarriage where no H Mole was suspected. Conclusion It can be recommended that histopathological examination should be performed in selected instances. Further, it is a hospital-based study and its findings increase the importance of a country wide study to guide the revision of current practice of routine histopathological examination of specimens from miscarriages in this middle-income country.