Gestational trophoblastic disease in ectopic pregnancy: A case series.
OBJECTIVE
To describe 6 cases of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in ectopic pregnancy admitted to Hospital Universitario de Caracas (HUC).


METHODS
Medical records of 6 patients admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, HUC, from 1996 to 2004 were reviewed. They underwent surgery with a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, and histologic analysis revealed GTD. Clinical trends were analyzed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of GTD in ectopic pregnancy was 0.16:1,000 deliveries. The mean patient age was 29 years. The preceding gestation was a term delivery in 4 and abortion in 2. The mean gestational age at admission was 8 weeks. All patients complained of abdominal pain, and 3 of them also had vaginal bleeding. Ultrasound revealed an adnexal tumor in 5 cases; this tumor and hemoperitoneum (6 cases) were the most frequent surgical findings. Histopathologic diagnosis was partial mole in 5 and choriocarcinoma in 1. Four patients were lost to follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
In this series the prevalence of ectopic GTD was high. The condition can mimic the usual symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, especially when a hemoperitoneum is present. It is important to apply strict histologic criteria for GTD when a sample of ectopic pregnancy is analyzed and to monitor those patients with careful human chorionic gonadotropin follow-up.
Cortés-Charry
Rafael
R
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Venezuela. rafacort083@cantv.net
Figueira
Lina M
LM
García-Barriola
Victoria
V
Gomez
Carolina
C
Garcia
Isabel
I
Santiago
Carla
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D031901:Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology