The information on this page was reviewed and approved by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA.
This page was updated on November 04, 2020.
Gestational trophoblastic disease is rare. Know your options.
In a normal pregnancy, cells grow and surround the fertilized egg, connecting the egg to the wall of the uterus and forming the placenta, which is responsible for feeding the fetus during pregnancy. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a rare condition—accounting for fewer than 1 percent of all gynecologic cancers and occurring in about one of every 1,000 in the United States. This condition develops after conception, when trophoblast cells change and form a mass in the placenta, preventing the development of a healthy fetus.
Although GTD is usually not cancerous, some tumors may become cancerous and spread. GTD is treatable, especially if caught early.
What you should know after a cancer diagnosis
Treatment options
Several treatments may be recommended for GTD, depending on each individual patient’s unique diagnosis and circumstance. GTD treatments may include:
Surgery
Surgical procedures are the first treatment option for molar pregnancies, (when a tumor develops in the uterus as a result of a nonviable pregnancy) which account for most cases of GTD.
Chemotherapy
This treatment be used alone, or in combination with surgery. It’s commonly used to treat molar pregnancies.
Supportive care
Surgical and chemotherapy treatments for GTD may cause a number of side effects that affect your quality of life, including pain, malnutrition and depression. Our multidisciplinary care team works with each patient to help manage the side effects of cancer and its treatment. Services recommended for GTD patients may include:
Behavioral health
Our behavioral health support program is designed to support you and your caregivers before, during and after cancer treatment.
Learn More
Learn about gestational trophoblastic disease
Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is an umbrella term for a group of rare diseases in which abnormal trophoblast cells grow inside the uterus after conception. According to the National Cancer Institute, after conception, a tumor develops inside the uterus from tissue that is composed of trophoblast cells. This tissue is designed to surround the fertilized egg in the uterus, and the trophoblast cells help connect the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus, forming part of the placenta, which supplies the embryo with nourishment from the mother.
GTD occurs after conception, when the trophoblast cells change and form a mass in the placenta, preventing a healthy fetus from developing. GTD is usually not cancerous, though some tumors may become cancerous and spread, and is generally treatable, especially if it’s caught early.
"The care I received at CTCA still amazes me. I felt genuine concern and empathy. If I was having a meltdown moment, someone was there to hand me a tissue. No one made me feel silly about the questions I had, and my questions were answered. At CTCA, I felt like my doctor cared, and that he takes the time to care. I don’t see him or the members of my care team checking their watches during an appointment with me. That alone is extraordinary to me."
Anne S.
Uterine Cancer
New research
Offering clinical trials on new and emerging cancer treatment options.
View our clinical trialsWhat’s your risk?
Take our cancer risk management questionnaire to help assess your risk and take control.
Assess your cancer risk