2020 38 Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Flashcards
** What are the common signs & symptoms of molar pregnancies? **
- Irregular PV bleeding
- Positive pregnancy test
- Ultrasonographic evidence
** What are the less common presentations of molar pregnancies? **
- Hyperemesis
- Excessive uterine enlargement
- Hyperthyroidism
- Early-onset pre-eclampsia
- Abdominal distensión by theca lutein cysts
** What are the very rare presentations of molar pregnancy? **
- Haemoptysis due to lung mets
- Seizures due to brain mets
** How is molar pregnancy definitively diagnosed? **
Histology
** What method should be used for removal of a molar pregnancy? **
- Complete molar: suction curettage
- Consider US guidance to minimise chance of perforation or RPOC
- Partial molar: suction curettage unless fetal parts too big, then medical
** What surgical considerations are there for molar pregnancy removal? **
- Anti-D prophylaxis after
- Cervical preparation is safe
- Oxytocin infusion not recommended due to risk of tissue embolisation
- Senior consideration of oxytocin if significant haemorrhage
** When should repeat surgical removal be done for molar pregnancy? **
- Urgent if heavy or persistent PVB causing acute haemodynamic instability
- RPOC on USS
- If not acutely compromised, involve GTD referral centre
** How should GTD be excluded following miscarriage? **
- Histological assessment of all, if no fetal parts identified at any stage of pregnancy
- UPT at 3 weeks
** How should GTD be excluded following abortion? **
- No need to routinely send if fetal parts identified in prior USS
- UPT at 3 weeks
** How should elevated hCG after a possible pregnancy be managed? **
Referral to GTD centre, provided
1. Ectopic pregnancy excluded, or
2. 2 consecutive treatments with methotrexate
** Who should be investigated for GTN after a non-molar pregnancy? **
- Persistent PVB: urine hCG in all lasting more than 8 weeks
- Symptoms of mets including dyspnoea, haemoptysis, new onset seizures or paralysis
NB Do not biopsy secondary deposits in vagina as can cause major haemorrhage
** How should suspected ectopic molar pregnancy be managed? **
- As other ectopic pregnancy
- Send pregnancy tissue to a centre with appropriate expertise
** How is twin pregnancy of a viable fetus & coexistente molar managed? **
- If diagnosed or suspected, refer to FMU & GTD centre
- Counselling about increased risk of perinatal mortality
- Consider prenatal invasive testing: complete mole with coexisting normal vs singleton partial molar
- Also for suspected mesenchymal hyperplasia of placenta
** Which women should be registered at GTD centres? **
- Complete or partial molar
- Twin with complete or partial molar
- Limited macro or microscopic change suggesting early complete or partial molar or choriocarcinoma
- PSTT: placental site trophiblastic tumour
- ETT: epithelial trophoblastic tumour
- Atypical PSN: placental site nodule
** What is the optimum follow-up following a diagnosis of GTD? **
- Complete, hCG normal after 56 days ➡️ 6 months from uterine removal
- Complete, not normal after 56 days ➡️ 6 months from hCG normalisation
- Partial: after 2 normal hCG samples, > 4 weeks apart