Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

 Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a rareG variation of pregnancy of unknown etiology and usu-ally presents as a benign disease called hydatidiformmole (molar pregnancy). GTN is a clinical spectrum that includes all neoplasms that derive from abnormal placental (trophoblastic) proliferation. There are two varieties ofmolar pregnancies, complete mole (no fetus), and incom-plete mole (fetal parts in addition to molar degeneration.) Persistent or malignant disease will develop in approxi-mately 20% of patients with molar pregnancy. Persistent or malignant GTN is responsive to chemotherapy.

 

Key clinical features of GTN include: (1) clinical presentation as pregnancy, (2) reliable means of diagnosis by pathognomonic ultrasound findings, and (3) a specific tumor marker (quantitative serum human chorionicgonadotropin [hCG]). Persistent GTN may occur with anypregnancy, although it most commonly follows molar pregnancy.

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