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Introduction

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) arises from an abnormal pregnancy which can subsequently develop into a neoplastic lesion and cancer. The most common abnormal pregnancy preceding GTD is usually benign.

Molar pregnancy histologically is classified into partial and complete mole. The malignant histological types include choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT), and epithelioid trophoblastic tumour. The presence of abnormal prolif­erating trophoblastic tissues can be detected by serum human chori­onic gonadotropin (hCG) assays. Hence, a disease entity without histology but characterized by a persistently elevated serum hCG concentration after molar or normal pregnancy is named gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) and forms part of the GTD spectrum where treatment is required. Treatment of the malignant form of GTD is mostly by chemotherapy with good prognosis.

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Source: Arulkumaran S., Ledger W., Denny L., Doumouchtsis S. (eds.). Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Oxford University Press,2020. — 928 p.. 2020
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