Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

Chapter 8: Gestational Trophoblastic Disease

Overview:

• Informs on the clinical presentation of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD)
• Discusses the management of GTD
• Provides suggestions for how to live with GTD

Description:

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a group of interrelated conditions originating from the chorionic portion of the placenta. The World Health Organization (WHO 1983) has classified GTD as consisting of:

• two pre-malignant diseases - complete and partial hydatidiform mole; and
• three malignant diseases - invasive mole, gestational, choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumour.

This chapter explores GTD; its incidence, diagnosis, management and more.

Topics:

• Pathophysiology
  • GTD in general
  • Complete hydatidiform mole
  • Partial hydatidiform mole
  • Invasive mole
  • Choriocarcinoma
  • Placental site trophoblastic tumour
• Incidence and risk factors
• Clinical presentation
  • Complete and partial mole
  • Choriocarcinoma
  • PSTT
• Diagnosis
  • Pre-malignant diseases
  • Malignant diseases
• Management
  • Hydatidiform mole
  • Malignant gestational trophoblastic disease
  • Placental site trophoblastic tumour
  • Twin pregnancy
  • Follow-up
• Living with gestational trophoblastic disease
  • Immediate consequences
  • Future pregnancies

Speaker / Author:

Kathryn Nattress
Kathryn is a registered nurse and holds a bachelor’s degree in science (nursing) and a master’s degree in medical science (palliative care). Her master’s thesis focused on the experiences of women living with advanced ovarian cancer, and she holds specialist practitioner registration in palliative care. Kathryn has worked as a cancer nurse in Scotland and Australia for more than ten years. In Scotland she was a Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist in palliative care and in gynaecological oncology. She was also employed as an information officer at Cancerlink - a national charity providing information and support to cancer patients.

Since moving to Australia in 2002, Kathryn has been employed in her current position as the Clinical Nurse Consultant for gynaecological oncology at the Sydney Cancer Centre. Kathryn has provided nursing representation on a variety of national working parties. As a member of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland - Gynaecological Cancer Group, she was involved in the development and implementation of a national system of quality assurance and accreditation and, as a member of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network - Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Group, she was involved in the development of evidence-based guidelines for the management of this disease. Kathryn is a member of the editorial advisory board for the Virtual Cancer Centre website.

Professional Reviews: