Pulmonary metastasis in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease

Abstract

The medical records of 82 women who were admitted to the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, between January 1, 2000, and October 31, 2007, for the treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) were reviewed. The diagnosis of metastasis was based on clinical and radiologic evidence (chest X-ray and computed tomography) and on whether the women had elevated levels of serum human chorionic gonadotropin. Particular attention was paid to previous abortions, the interval between previous abortions and the diagnosis of metastasis, the mortality rate, and the need for hysterectomy. Ethics approval was not required for the present study. Of the 82 women, 9 (10.9%) had metastasis: 6 (7.3%) had pulmonary metastasis and 3 (3.6%) had vaginal metastasis. The present study focused on the 6 patients with pulmonary metastasis, 5 of whom were multiparous and had experienced a molar pregnancy within 1 year of the abortion of a preceding pregnancy. The ages of the women ranged from 25 to 51 years (mean, 36 years). A 39-year-old woman had primary GTD with pulmonary metastasis. The diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis was made using chest X-ray and, when the radiologic findings were deemed inconclusive, confirmed using computed tomography. All 6 women with pulmonary disease displayed non-specific signs of chest metastasis (periodic cough, dyspnea, and pleuritic pain), which they had ignored.