Executive Summary
The gestational trophoblastic disease accounts for less than 1% of all tumors that begin in a woman’s reproductive system; the evolving group is gynecologic cancers. Most of the cases involve molar pregnancies. Choriocarcinoma accounts for 2-7 pregnancies out of every 100,000 pregnancies in the USA, and African American women have the highest incidence additionally, it is more common in other parts of the world, including Asia and Africa. All women having a molar pregnancy or low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia can be cured. A placental-site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) affects 35% of women showing metastasis outside of the uterus before diagnosis, while fast-growing gestational trophoblastic neoplasia evolves the cure rates as high as 80% to 90% with intensive treatment.
Statistics of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Overall, GTD is rare and primarily curable. In the United States, GTD accounts for less than 1% of all tumors that begin in a woman’s reproductive system; a group called gynecologic cancers 1. GTD happens in about 1 out of every 1,000 pregnancies in the United States and also most of these are molar pregnancies. Choriocarcinoma occurs in nearly 2 to 7 pregnancies out of every 100,000 pregnancies in the United States of America, and African American women have the highest incidence, overall, GTD is much more common in other parts of the world, including Asia and Africa.
Nearly all women having a molar pregnancy or low-risk GTN can be cured 2. A PSTT can often be cured, mainly if found before it spreads outside the uterus. In 35% of women with PSTT, cancer has already spread outside of the uterus before diagnosis. Even with fast-growing GTN, cure rates are as high as 80% to 90% with intensive treatment.
References
- 1.Shi Y, Li J, Zheng W, et al. [Survey of gestational trophoblastic disease incidence among 3.6 million pregnancies in China]. Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi. 2005;40(2):76-78. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15840282
- 2.Soper JT. Gestational Trophoblastic Disease. Obstetrics & Gynecology. Published online January 5, 2021:355-370. doi:10.1097/aog.0000000000004240