If a patient has gestational trophoblastic disease, her doctor will do tests to find out if the cancer has spread from inside the uterus to other parts of the body. This process, called staging, helps the doctor to plan the patient s treatment. Several classification systems have been developed for staging gestational trophoblastic disease. Because hydatidiform moles and placental-site gestational trophoblastic tumors are distinct growths requiring distinct therapies, they are treated as separate stages.
Abnormal tissue is found only in the space inside the uterus.
Most patients will recover without needing more therapy but need to have their serum hCG followed weekly. In about 1 percent of cases, the patient may have a second mole with the next pregnancy. Cancer has not spread outside the uterus. If the hCG levels do not fall appropriately, the patient may need chemotherapy. The cancer has spread from the uterus to other parts of the body.