The Mayo Clinic Diet Book, learn more

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

After a molar pregnancy has been removed, molar tissue may remain and continue to grow. This is called persistent gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). It occurs in about 20 percent of women after a molar pregnancy — usually after a complete mole rather than a partial mole.

One sign of persistent GTD is an elevated level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) — a pregnancy hormone — in your blood even after the molar pregnancy has been removed. In some cases, an invasive mole penetrates deep into the middle layer of the uterine wall, which causes vaginal bleeding. Persistent GTD can nearly always be successfully treated, most often with chemotherapy. Another treatment option is removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).

Rarely, a cancerous form of GTD known as choriocarcinoma develops and spreads to other organs. Choriocarcinoma is usually successfully treated with multiple cancer drugs.

Preparing for your appointment Risk factors
References
  1. Early pregnancy loss: Miscarriage and molar pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/faq/faq090.cfm. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
  2. Ectopic and molar pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/Baby/loss_ectopic.html. Accessed Oct. 3, 2011.
  3. Copeland LJ, et al. Malignant diseases and pregnancy. In: Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1528/0.html. Accessed Oct. 3, 2011.
  4. Garner EIO. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Management of hydatidiform mole. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
  5. Kindelberger DW, et al. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Pathology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
  6. Chiang JW, et al. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
  7. Garner EIO. Malignant gestational trophoblastic disease: Staging and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 29, 2011.
  8. Kavanagh JJ, et al. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Hydatidiform mole, nonmetastatic and metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumor: Diagnosis and management. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed Oct. 5, 2011.
  9. Dilation and curettage. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/faq/faq062.cfm. Accessed Oct. 5, 2011.
  10. Al-Hussaini TK, et al. Recurrent pregnancy loss due to familial and non-familial habitual molar pregnancy. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2003;83:179.
  11. Soper JT, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease: ACOG practice bulletin No. 53. Gynecologic Oncology. 2004;93:575.
  12. Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 9, 2011.
DS01155 Nov. 11, 2011

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger