title: Gestational trophoblastic disease: a multimodality imaging approach with impact on diagnosis and management.
abstract: Gestational trophoblastic disease is a condition of uncertain etiology, comprised of hydatiform mole (complete and partial), invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumor. It arises from abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue. Early diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease and its potential complications is important for timely and successful management of the condition with preservation of fertility. Initial diagnosis is based on a multimodality approach: encompassing clinical features, serial quantitative β-hCG titers, and pelvic ultrasonography. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sometimes used as a problem-solving tool to assess the depth of myometrial invasion and extrauterine disease spread in equivocal and complicated cases. Chest radiography, body computed tomography (CT), and brain MRI have been recommended as investigative tools for overall disease staging. Angiography has a role in management of disease complications and metastases. Efficacy of PET (positron emission tomography) and PET/CT in the evaluation of recurrent or metastatic disease has not been adequately investigated yet. This paper discusses the imaging features of gestational trophoblastic disease on various imaging modalities and the role of different imaging techniques in the diagnosis and management of this entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, National University Hospital, Level 2, Main Building, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074 ; Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Marg, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012, India.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3125-3727
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhanda
authors.affiliation: Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Marg, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012, India.
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramani
authors.affiliation: Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr. E. Borges Marg, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012, India.
authors.forename: Meenkashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thakur