What is snowstorm appearance?
[3] When MSU crystals are observed in the synovial fluid, a characteristic musculoskeletal ultrasound appearance of multiple hyperechoic foci floating within the joint cavity is described as a “snowstorm appearance.”
What is a snowstorm ultrasound?
Snowstorm sign on breast ultrasound imaging represents the presence of free silicone droplets mixed with breast tissue giving a characteristic heterogeneous echogenic appearance with dispersion of the ultrasound beam. It is considered the most reliable sign of extracapsular breast implant rupture 1.
What does molar pregnancy tissue look like?
In a complete molar pregnancy, the placental tissue is abnormal and swollen and appears to form fluid-filled cysts. There’s also no formation of fetal tissue. In a partial molar pregnancy, there may be normal placental tissue along with abnormally forming placental tissue.
What does molar pregnancy look like on ultrasound?
A pelvis ultrasound of a molar pregnancy will typically show a grape-like cluster of blood vessels and tissue. Your doctor may also recommend other imaging — like MRI and CT scans — to confirm the diagnosis. High levels of hCG in the blood might also be a sign of a molar pregnancy.
Why do snowstorms appear molar pregnancy?
Classically, a ‘snowstorm pattern’ has been described, resulting from the presence of a complex vesicular intrauterine mass containing many ‘grape-like’ cysts. Ultrasound evaluation of the adnexa can also reveal theca lutein cysts, due to ovarian stimulation by abnormally elevated beta-hCG levels.
What is a trophoblastic tumor?
A placental-site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a rare type of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia that forms where the placenta attaches to the uterus. The tumor forms from trophoblast cells and spreads into the muscle of the uterus and into blood vessels. It may also spread to the lungs, pelvis, or lymph nodes.
What is an invasive mole?
Invasive mole is a subtype of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTNs) that usually develops from the malignant transformation of trophoblastic tissue after molar evacuation. Invasive moles mostly occur in women of reproductive age, while they are extremely rare in postmenopausal women.
What is the difference between a complete and incomplete hydatidiform mole?
In complete hydatidiform mole, there is no fetal tissue present; in partial hydatiform moles, there is some residual fetal tissue. Both are due to the over-proliferation of chorionic villi.
Can molar pregnancy be misdiagnosed?
Conclusion: Clinical and histopathologic diagnosis of twin molar pregnancies is inaccurate in many suspected cases; therefore, a second (expert) opinion should be sought. When the diagnosis is accurate, maternal and fetal complications are common.
How rare is a partial molar pregnancy?
Partial molar pregnancy with a live fetus is a very rare condition, occurring in 0.005 to 0.01% of all pregnancies; it presents a challenging diagnosis, especially when clinical signs are almost completely absent.
Do hCG levels rise in molar pregnancy?
When a woman has a molar pregnancy she experiences the symptoms of pregnancy because the placenta continues to make the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). However, the level of hCG is usually higher than normal, which explains why morning sickness can be sometimes more severe than usual.
How long after a molar pregnancy Can you try again?
The risk of having another molar pregnancy is small (about 1 in 80). It’s best not to try getting pregnant again until all your follow-up treatment has finished. For most women, this will take about 6 months. If you have GTN, you will need to wait for 12 months after you have finished chemotherapy treatment.
Do snowstorm cysts appear on ultrasonography of early molar pregnancies?
Since our anecdotal experience indicates that the classically described “snowstorm” appearance on ultrasonography of early molar pregnancies is often not present and that theca-lutein cysts are also rare, we examined the ultrasonographic appearance of early complete molar pregnancies.
How is molar pregnancy diagnosed in early pregnancy?
Nowadays ultrasound scan often permits to diagnose molar pregnancy before 12 weeks, showing a fine vascular or honeycomb appearance. Later a complete mole is characteristically described as snowstorm appearance of mixed echogenicity, representing hydropic villi and intrauterine hemorrhage.
What is snowstorm sign in obstetric imaging?
Snowstorm sign in obstetric imaging is classically seen in complete hydatiform mole. It is characterized by the presence of many hydropic villi which gives the ultrasonographic appearance of a central heterogeneous mass having a solid, hyperechoic area and interspersed with a multitude of cystic areas and filling the entire uterine cavity.
What is the karyotype of a molar pregnancy?
Most have 46,XX karyotype; a few have a 46,XY karyotype. A complete molar pregnancy consists of diffuse hydropic chorionic villi with trophoblastic hyperplasia, forming a mass of multiple vescicles.