Gestational trophoblastic disease: Difference between revisions
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''' | '''In gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD)''', a tumor develops inside the uterus from tissuethat forms after conception (the joining of sperm and egg). This tissue is made oftrophoblast cells and normally surrounds the fertilized egg in the uterus. Trophoblast cells help connect the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus and form part of the placenta (theorgan that passes nutrients from the mother to the fetus). | ||
Sometimes there is a problem with the fertilized egg and trophoblast cells. Instead of a healthy fetus developing, a tumor forms. Until there are signs or symptoms of the tumor, the pregnancy will seem like a normal pregnancy. | |||
Most GTD is benign (not cancer) and does not spread, but some types become malignant(cancer) and spread to nearby tissues or distant parts of the body. | |||
==Classification== | ==Classification== | ||
There are profound differences in pathological morphology and clinical behavior in various forms of GTD. Types include: | There are profound differences in pathological morphology and clinical behavior in various forms of GTD. Types include: | ||
Revision as of 16:11, 6 October 2015
For patient information on Hydatiform mole, click here
For patient information on Choriocarcinoma, click here
| Gestational trophoblastic disease | |
| Classification and external resources | |
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| Micrograph of intermediate trophoblast, decidua and a hydatidiform mole (bottom of image). H&E stain. |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
In gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), a tumor develops inside the uterus from tissuethat forms after conception (the joining of sperm and egg). This tissue is made oftrophoblast cells and normally surrounds the fertilized egg in the uterus. Trophoblast cells help connect the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus and form part of the placenta (theorgan that passes nutrients from the mother to the fetus).
Sometimes there is a problem with the fertilized egg and trophoblast cells. Instead of a healthy fetus developing, a tumor forms. Until there are signs or symptoms of the tumor, the pregnancy will seem like a normal pregnancy.
Most GTD is benign (not cancer) and does not spread, but some types become malignant(cancer) and spread to nearby tissues or distant parts of the body.
Classification
There are profound differences in pathological morphology and clinical behavior in various forms of GTD. Types include:
- Abnormal placenta, mostly due to abnormal fertilization
- Hydatidiform mole (HM)
- Frank malignant tumors of trophoblast
- Invasive mole, choriocarcinoma (CCA)
- Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT)
- Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT)
- Not true neoplasms, representing abnormally formed placentas
- Exaggerated placenta site (EPS)
- Placental site nodule (PSN)
Pathophysiology
It is the result of a (purely chance) genetic error during the fertilization process that in turn causes the growth of abnormal tissue (which is not an embryo) within the uterus. The growth of this material is disproportionately rapid when compared to normal fetal growth.