Incidence and clinicopathological profile of gestational trophoblastic disease in tertiary care centre

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) arises from abnormal proliferation of placental trophoblastic tissue. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and clinicopathological profiles with treatment outcome of gestational trophoblastic disease in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Bhutan.

Method: A prospective and retrospective observational study was conducted over a period of 18 months.

Results: A total of 121 cases of gestational trophoblastic disease were diagnosed with an incidence rate of 19.7 per 1000 deliveries. Majority comprised hydatidiform moles
(115);of which, 30 (26.1%) were complete and 85(73.9%) partial moles. The mean gestational age at diagnosis of hydatidiform mole was 9.8± 1.6 weeks and the most common symptom being vaginal bleeding (72.8%). Nine (7.8%) of these progressed to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and was strongly associated with high pre-evacuation beta-hCG level (> 100,000 mIU/ml) and larger uterine size (> 14 weeks).

Conclusions: This study revealed a high incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease in national referral hospital. Further in-depth research and instituting a GTD registry can be useful to validate these findings and find the true incidence. A substantial number of molar pregnancies can progress to GTN, and thus requires strict follow-up.