Role of hysterectomy in management of gestational trophoblastic disease

Objective. To evaluate incidence, indications, and outcome of hysterectomy in women presenting with gestational trophoblastic disease. Methods. A prospective observational study using a standardized protocol for registration, assessment, and treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease. A total of 5976 consecutive new patients registered between January 1986 and December 2000 with a diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease. The setting was a supraregional tertiary referral center for gestational trophoblastic disease. Results. Between January 1 1986 and December 312000, 5976 new patients with a diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease were registered at Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield. Of these patients, 301 required chemotherapy. Forty patients underwent hysterectomy. The average pretreatment risk score in women who had hysterectomy was 7.4. The mean time interval between diagnosis of molar disease and hysterectomy was 17 months. Indications for hysterectomy included uncontrollable vaginal or intraabdominal bleeding, localized chemo-resistant disease, and placental site trophoblastic tumor. In this group, 31 of 40 women had chemotherapy and 14 patients needed more than one regimen. These women were also more likely to have atypical histology (3 invasive moles, 6 placental site trophoblastic tumours, 13 choriocarcinomas, and 2 dimorphic tumours). There were 10 deaths in all registered patients with molar disease and 4 of these were in the hysterectomy group. Conclusion. Hysterectomy was performed in 1 in 150 northern UK women with gestational trophoblastic disease. Patients needing hysterectomy represent an increased-risk group as indicated by their high pretreatment risk scores, atypical histology, frequent use of salvage chemotherapy, and higher mortality. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).