Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Treated by Gynecologic Oncologists at Mercy

Gestational trophoblastic disease develops in the uterus from an abnormal growth of cells during pregnancy. Gestational trophoblastic disease occurs when cells that should develop into the placenta grow into a mass, or tumor, that attaches to the uterine wall. The majority of gestational trophoblastic disease is not cancerous. Surgery is the main course of treatment and in most cases gestational trophoblastic disease can be cured.

Types of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

There are four types of gestational trophoblastic disease:

• Hydatidiform Mole
  The hydatifiform mole, also referred to as a molar pregnancy, is the most common type of gestational trophoblastic disease. A complete hydatidiform mole occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg that does not contain a nucleus or DNA, causing the chromosomes from the sperm to double. A partial hydatidiform mole occurs when more than one sperm fertilizes an egg. In both cases of this type of gestational trophoblastic disease, a normal pregnancy is not possible. Typically a dilation and curettage (D&C), during which the uterine lining is scraped to remove the abnormal growth, is performed to remove the hydatidiform mole.
  
  A partial hydatidiform mole is rarely cancerous. A complete hydatifiform mole can develop into cancer and often invades the muscle wall of the uterus. Called persistent gestational trophoblastic disease, this growth most often is known as an invasive mole, another type of gestational trophoblastic disease.

• Invasive Mole
  An invasive mole is a hydatidiform mole that grows into the uterine muscle below the uterine lining. Sometimes this type of gestational trophoblastic disease goes away by itself, but most need surgical treatment. In some cases, after the removal of the tumor, the remnants can be found in other parts of the body, specifically the lungs.

Treatment for this condition depends on the type of gestational trophoblastic disease that is discovered. The gynecologic oncologists at Mercy work with each woman to carefully evaluate her symptoms and tests and develop a treatment plan suited to her needs.