Treatment of choriocarcinoma in Singapore

Abstract

Over 750 cases of trophoblastic disease have been documented during the last 16 years. Of these, the majority were benign hydatidiform moles, but 106 patients had trophoblastic disease of a malignant nature. Those that were destructive or 'metastasizing moles' or frank choriocarcinoma were subdivided on histology into 'villous' or 'avillous' categories respectively. Where there was a persistence of HCG activity beyond the expected time after evacuation, or where there were secondaries on which no histology was available, they were classed as 'clinical choriocarcinoma'. The response of each of the tumours according to the above classification is presented in this paper and the difference in prognosis with the advent of drugs like methotrexate and others is discussed.