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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffAfter 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 10 percent of women after a molar pregnancy — usually after a complete mole rather than a partial mole. One sign of persistent GTD is an HCG level that remains high 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.
- Early pregnancy loss: Miscarriage and molar pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp090.cfm. Accessed Aug. 14, 2009.
- Ectopic and molar pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1189.asp. Accessed Aug. 14, 2009.
- Copeland LJ, et al. Malignant diseases in pregnancy. In: Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2007:1.
- Garner EIO. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Management of hydatidiform mole. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Berek JS. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Pathology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Chang JW, et al. Gestational trophoblastic disease: Epidemiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Garner EIO. Malignant gestational trophoblastic disease: Staging and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Kavanagh JJ, et al. Comprehensive gynecology. 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; 2007:1.
- Dilation and curettage. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp062.cfm. Accessed Aug. 18, 2009.
- 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.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 16, 2009.
