{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T13:10:37Z","timestamp":1792674637214,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"7","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Clin Pathol"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1993,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>AIMS--To assess the degree of difficulty in diagnosing partial mole by analysing intraobserver and interobserver agreement among a group of pathologists for these diagnoses. METHODS--Fifty mixed cases of partial mole, complete mole, and non-molar pregnancy were submitted to seven histopathologists, two of whom are expert gynaecological pathologists; the other five were district general hospital consultants, one of whom works in Australia. These participants gave each slide a firm diagnosis of either partial mole, complete mole, or non-molar pregnancy. Some 12 months later, the slides were recorded and again submitted for a second diagnostic round to assess intraobserver as well as interobserver agreement. Standard histological criteria for each diagnostic category were circulated with the slides. RESULTS--kappa statistics showed that complete mole could be reliably distinguished from non-molar pregnancy, but neither non-molar pregnancy nor complete mole could be easily differentiated from partial mole. In only 35 out of 50 cases was there agreement between five or more of the seven participants. Agreement between the expert gynaecological pathologists was no better than for others in the group. Interestingly, the intraobserver agreement for each pathologist was good to excellent. CONCLUSIONS--These results imply that the reported histological criteria are either not being applied consistently or that they are lacking in practical use. An atypical growth pattern of trophoblast, rather than the polar accentuation seen in normal first trimester pregnancies, seems to be the important diagnostic histological feature for partial mole. Ploidy studies might also help with problem cases.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/jcp.46.7.599","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,6,9]],"date-time":"2007-06-09T00:50:46Z","timestamp":1181350246000},"page":"599-602","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":79,"title":["Can histopathologists reliably diagnose molar pregnancy?"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"46","author":[{"given":"A J","family":"Howat","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"S","family":"Beck","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"H","family":"Fox","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"S C","family":"Harris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A S","family":"Hill","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"C M","family":"Nicholson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R A","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1993,7,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"248","article-title":"Biopsy pathology of the endometrium. In: Biopsy pathology series 14","author":"Buckley, C.H.; Fox, H.","year":"1989","unstructured":"Buckley CH, Fox H. Biopsy pathology of the endometrium. In: Biopsy pathology series 14. London: Chapman and Hall, 1989:248-62."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"1045","article-title":"Gestational trophoblastic disease","volume-title":"Taylor. Textbook of obstetrical and gynaecological pathology","author":"Elston, C.W.","year":"1987","unstructured":"Elston CW. Gestational trophoblastic disease. In: Fox H, ed. Haines and Taylor. Textbook of obstetrical and gynaecological pathology. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1987:1045-78."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1016","DOI":"10.1016\/S0046-8177(81)80259-6","article-title":"Human triploidy: association with partial hydatidiform moles and non-molar conceptuses","volume":"12","author":"Szulman, A.E.; Phillipe, E.; Boue, J.G.; Boue, A.","year":"1981","unstructured":"Szulman AE, Phillipe E, Boue JG, Boue A. Human triploidy: association with partial hydatidiform moles and non-molar conceptuses. Hum Pathol 1981;12: 1016-21.","journal-title":"Hum Pathol"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"443","article-title":"Trophoblastic disease: clinical pathology of hydatidiform moles","volume":"15","author":"Szulman, A.E.","year":"1988","unstructured":"Szulman AE. Trophoblastic disease: clinical pathology of hydatidiform moles. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 1988; 15:443-56.","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"491","DOI":"10.1016\/S0889-8545(21)00122-4","article-title":"Diagnosis and management of the primary hydatidiform mole","volume":"15","author":"Berkowitz, R.S.; Goldstein, D.P.","year":"1988","unstructured":"Berkowitz RS, Goldstein DP. Diagnosis and management of the primary hydatidiform mole. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 1988;15:491-503.","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1016\/S0143-4004(85)80060-6","article-title":"Hydatidiform mole in Nottingham: a 12 yr retrospective epidemiological and morphological study","volume":"6","author":"Womack CC, Elston CW","year":"1985","unstructured":"Womack CC, Elston CW. Hydatidiform mole in Nottingham: a 12 yr retrospective epidemiological and morphological study. Placenta 1985;6:93-106.","journal-title":"Placenta"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1491","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.304.6840.1491","article-title":"Statistical methods for assessing observer variability in clinical measures","volume":"304","author":"Brennan, P.; Silman, A.","year":"1992","unstructured":"Brennan P, Silman A. Statistical methods for assessing observer variability in clinical measures. BMJ 1992;304: 1491-4.","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"48","article-title":"Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity as a means for distinguishing hydropic abortions from partial hydatidiform moles","volume":"46","author":"Suresh, U.R.; Hale, R.J.; Fox, H.; Buckley, C.H.","year":"1993","unstructured":"Suresh UR, Hale RJ, Fox H, Buckley CH. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity as a means for distinguishing hydropic abortions from partial hydatidiform moles. J7 Clin Pathol 1993;46:48-50."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1016\/0046-8177(89)90001-4","article-title":"Flow cytometry for all mole-like abortion specimens","volume":"20","author":"Benirschke, K.","year":"1989","unstructured":"Benirschke K. Flow cytometry for all mole-like abortion specimens. Hum Pathol 1989;20:403-4.","journal-title":"Hum Pathol"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"596","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcp\/89.5.596","article-title":"Hydatidiform moles. Application of flow cytometry in diagnosis","volume":"89","author":"Lage, J.M.; Driscoll, S.G.; Yavner, D.L.; Olivier, A.P.; Mark, S.D.; Weinberg, D.S.","year":"1988","unstructured":"Lage JM, Driscoll SG, Yavner DL, Olivier AP, Mark SD, Weinberg DS. Hydatidiform moles. Application of flow cytometry in diagnosis. Am J Clin Pathol 1988;89: 596-600.","journal-title":"Am J Clin Pathol"},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"255","article-title":"Unmasking moles. Br Jf Obstet Gynaecol","volume":"89","author":"Bagshawe, K.D.; Lawler, S.D.","year":"1982","unstructured":"Bagshawe KD, Lawler SD. Unmasking moles. Br Jf Obstet Gynaecol 1982;89:255-7."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"615","DOI":"10.1136\/jcp.40.6.615","article-title":"Diagnosis of molar pregnancy and persistent trophoblastic disease by flow cytometry","volume":"40","author":"Hemming, J.D.; Quirke, P.; Womack, C.; Wells, M.; Elston, C.W.; Bird, C.C.","year":"1987","unstructured":"Hemming JD, Quirke P, Womack C, Wells M, Elston CW, Bird CC. Diagnosis of molar pregnancy and persistent trophoblastic disease by flow cytometry. J Clin Pathol 1987;40:615-20.","journal-title":"J Clin Pathol"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"735","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.humrep.a136623","article-title":"Prevalence and distribution of chromosome abnonnalities in a sample of first trimester internal abortions","volume":"2","author":"Guerneri, S.; Bettio, D.; Simoni, G.; Brambati, B.; Lanzani, A.; Fraccaro, M.","year":"1987","unstructured":"Guerneri S, Bettio D, Simoni G, Brambati B, Lanzani A, Fraccaro M. Prevalence and distribution of chromosome abnonnalities in a sample of first trimester internal abortions. Hum Reproduct 1987;2:735-9.","journal-title":"Hum Reproduct"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1399-0004.1986.tb01230.x","article-title":"Cytogenetic analysis of 100 spontaneous abortions in North-West Scotland","volume":"29","author":"Procter, S.E.; Watt, J.L.; Gray, E.S.","year":"1986","unstructured":"Procter SE, Watt JL, Gray ES. Cytogenetic analysis of 100 spontaneous abortions in North-West Scotland. Clin Genet 1986;29:101-3.","journal-title":"Clin Genet"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"419","DOI":"10.1016\/0046-8177(89)90005-1","article-title":"The biology of tetraploid hydatidiform moles: histopathology, cytogenetics and flow cytometry","volume":"20","year":"1989","unstructured":"Lage JM, Weinberg DS, Yavner DL, Bieber FR. The biology of tetraploid hydatidiform moles: histopathology, cytogenetics and flow cytometry. Hum Pathol 1989;20: 419-25.","journal-title":"Hum Pathol"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1270","DOI":"10.1016\/0002-9378(91)90698-Q","article-title":"A prospective genetic study of complete and partial hydatidiform moles","volume":"164","author":"Lawler, S.D.; Fisher, R.A.; Dent, J.","year":"1991","unstructured":"Lawler SD, Fisher RA, Dent J. A prospective genetic study of complete and partial hydatidiform moles. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1991;164:1270-7.","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"677","article-title":"Natural history of partial molar pregnancy","volume":"66","author":"Berkowitz, R.S.; Goldstein, D.P.; Bernstein, M.R.","year":"1986","unstructured":"Berkowitz RS, Goldstein DP, Bernstein MR. Natural history of partial molar pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 1986; 66:677-81.","journal-title":"Obstet Gynecol"},{"issue":"468-7","key":"ref_18","first-page":"1","article-title":"Choriocarcinoma following a partial hydatidiform mole: a case report","volume":"23","author":"Gardner, H.A.R.; Lage, J.M.","year":"1992","unstructured":"Gardner HAR, Lage JM. Choriocarcinoma following a partial hydatidiform mole: a case report. Hum Pathol 1992;23:468-7 1.","journal-title":"Hum Pathol"},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"51","article-title":"Malignant evolutions with fatal outcome in a patient with partial hydatidiform mole","volume":"21","author":"Looi, L.M.; Siganesaratnam, V.","year":"1981","unstructured":"Looi LM, Siganesaratnam V. Malignant evolutions with fatal outcome in a patient with partial hydatidiform mole. AustNZJ Obstet Gynaecol 1981;21:51-2.","journal-title":"AustNZJ Obstet Gynaecol"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"601","DOI":"10.3109\/15513819209024211","article-title":"In situ choriocarcinoma arising in partial hydatidiform mole: implications for the risk of persistent trophoblastic disease","volume":"12","author":"Heifetz, S.A.; Czaja, J.","year":"1992","unstructured":"Heifetz SA, Czaja J. In situ choriocarcinoma arising in partial hydatidiform mole: implications for the risk of persistent trophoblastic disease. Paediatr Pathol 1992;12: 601-11.","journal-title":"Paediatr Pathol"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1074","DOI":"10.1016\/0140-6736(90)92641-T","article-title":"Gestational trophoblastic tumours following initial diagnosis of partial hydatidiform mole","volume":"335","author":"Bagshawe, K.D.; Lawler, S.D.; Paradinas, F.J.; Dent, J.; Brown, P.; Boxer, G.M.","year":"1990","unstructured":"Bagshawe KD, Lawler SD, Paradinas FJ, Dent J, Brown P, Boxer GM. Gestational trophoblastic tumours following initial diagnosis of partial hydatidiform mole. Lancet 1990;335: 1074-6.","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"480","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1471-0528.1979.tb10793.x","article-title":"Discrepancies in the histological diagnosis of hydatidiform mole","volume":"86","author":"Javey, H.; Borazjani, G.; Behmard, S.; Langley, F.A.","year":"1979","unstructured":"Javey H, Borazjani G, Behmard S, Langley FA. Discrepancies in the histological diagnosis of hydatidiform mole. Bry Obstet Gynaecol 1979;86:480-3.","journal-title":"Bry Obstet Gynaecol"}],"container-title":["Journal of Clinical Pathology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/jcp.46.7.599","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]],"date-time":"2025-11-21T17:12:13Z","timestamp":1763745133000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/jcp.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/jcp.46.7.599"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[1993,7]]},"references-count":22,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1993,7,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1993,7]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/jcp.46.7.599"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/jcp.46.7.599","relation":{},"ISSN":["0021-9746","1472-4146"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0021-9746","type":"print"},{"value":"1472-4146","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[1993,7]]}}}