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, hyperechoi. Ultrasound is the standard imaging modality for identifying molar pregnancy.
Classically, a 'snowstorm pattern' has been described, resulting from the presence of a complex vesicular intrauterine mass containing many 'grape-like' cysts. A "snowstorm" pattern on ultrasonography (demonstrating multiple intrauterine echoes with no fetus) coupled with a high hCG level is typical of molar pregnancy. Molar pregnancies may also resemble a "cluster of grapes" on US.
"Moles" commonly produce serum hCG levels greater than 100,000 mIU/mL. We present a case of fetal junctional epidermolysis bullosa in a consanguineous couple, highly suggested by previous obstetric history and several antenatal ultrasound signs, such as polyhydramnios, gastric enlargment, the "snowflake sign", abnormal external ears, signs of skin desquamation, lower limbs anomalies and chorioamniotic membrane. The term "snowflake", when used to describe a granulomatous cyst caused by Echinococcus, may refer specifically to the fine, echogenic particles within the cyst, known as hydatid sand, which create a speckled pattern resembling snowflakes on ultrasound [6].
When a pregnancy is more than 12 weeks and the fetus is intact, it is not difficult to diagnose a partial mole because the typical "snowflake" picture is seen in the placental area accompanying the fetus. Ultrasound detection of a placental snowstorm appearance with a coexisting viable fetus is a diagnostic and counseling challenge. The differential diagnosis not only includes partial hydatidiform mole and complete hydatidiform mole with a viable co-twin but also includes placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD).
Each diagnosis is associated with a different maternal-fetal risk profile, and. Ultrasound is the standard imaging modality for identifying molar pregnancy. Classically, a 'snowstorm pattern' is resulting from the presence of a complex vesicular intrauterine mass containing many 'grape-like' cysts.
Adding the result of lab. The diagnosis of molar pregnancy can nearly always be made by ultrasound, because the chorionic villi of a typical complete mole proliferate with vacuolar swelling and produce a characteristic vesicular sonographic pattern. The snowflake sign.
A sonographic marker for prenatal detection of fetal skin denudation.