Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Types of Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors

It is the tumor that originates in trophoblastic cells. ( cells that help an embryo attach to the uterus and assist in the formation of the placenta after an egg is fertilized by a sperm in female fetus).

Types
Mainly gestational trophoblastic tumors are of two kinds:
  1. Hydatidiform mole
  2. Choriocarcinoma
This cancer is also called getational trophoblastic disease.

Hydatidiform mole
A pregnancy that has some abnormalities is a molar pregnancy, in which a non-viable egg after fertilization gets implanted in the uterus and causes pathological problems in woman suffering from this abnormality. This cancer is further classified into:
  1. Partial mole
  2. Complete mole
In a complete mole, a single cell is combined withan egg that has lost its DNA. Such cancers are at an increased risk of developing into choriocarcinoma. This is a malignant type or trophoblastic tumor.

Diagnosis
In this cancer, mostly there is a
  1. Painless vaginal bleeding during the fourth or the fifth month of pregnancy.
  2. A fairly large sized uterus and the ovaries
  3. Hyperemesis (excessive vomiting)
  4. Increased blood pressure ( sometimes)
  5. Protein in urine
  6. Very high levels of human chronic gonadotropin (hCG)
Treatment
Hydatidiform moles are treated by evacuating uterus through a surgical curettage or uterine suction as soon as it is possible, after its presence is confirmed. In some cases, chemotherapy is also given that works well. The women with molar pregnancies are advised to get pregnant for at least one year, as the treatment becomes more complicated if multiple molar pregnancies occur. Carboprost medication is also given to contract uterus.

Choriocarcinoma
This is more aggressive and malignant cancer and usually affects placenta. The symptoms are:
  1. vaginal bleeding
  2. chest pain
  3. breathlessness
  4. increased quantitative ß-hCG levels
  5. hemoptysis (bleeding in cough)