Negotiating a staging and risk factor scoring system for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. A progress report.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the current problems in establishing a unified staging and risk factor scoring system for trophoblastic disease under the auspices of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO).


METHODS
To present a history of the classifications of trophoblastic disease and compare these with the proposals presented to FIGO by the International Society for the Study of Trophoblastic Disease, the International Gynecologic Cancer Society and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists.


RESULTS
The situation concerning the proposed 2000 FIGO trophoblast classification was resolved by FIGO's acceptance of the recommendations outlined in this paper.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a scientific and clinical need for FIGO to adopt the recommendations of the majority of physicians with expertise in treating trophoblastic disease for a rational classification of trophoblastic disease. It is gratifying that FIGO has done so.
Kohorn
Ernest I
EI
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. ernest.kohorn@yale.edu
D032921:Consensus; D005260:Female; D031901:Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012955:Societies, Medical; D016896:Treatment Outcome