About gestational trophoblastic tumours
This page explains what gestational trophoblastic tumours (GTT) are. There is information about
About gestational trophoblastic tumours
Although gestational trophoblastic tumours (GTTs) usually start in the womb, they are very different from a cancer of the womb. Womb cancer develops from the cells that make up the womb, whereas a GTT grows from the tissue that forms in your womb when you are pregnant. GTT can be non cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Gestation just means pregnancy. Trophoblastic describes cells that are part of the normal development of a baby. Usually, after a sperm fertilises an egg, new cells grow. These cells form an embryo. As the embryo grows, its cells start to specialise. Some cells start to form the baby (foetus) and others form the placenta. The first layer of cells that develops into the placenta is called the trophoblast.
If you have a GTT, some trophoblastic cells grow abnormally and develop into a tumour. In a molar pregnancy, the foetus either doesn’t develop at all, or is abnormal and not able to grow normally. These tumours can spread outside your womb, though this is rare.
Terms used to describe GTT are trophoblastic disease, persistent trophoblastic disease, gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and gestational trophoblastic disease.
Added to this, there are different types of GTTs, including molar pregnancy (hydatidiform mole), invasive mole, placental site trophoblastic tumour and choriocarcinoma. Treatment is available for all types of GTT. Nearly all of them are curable. CancerHelp UK has information about molar pregnancy, persistent trophoblastic disease and choriocarcinoma.
A gestational trophoblastic tumour (GTT ) is a tumour that grows from the tissue that forms in your womb when you are pregnant. They can be non cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). They include molar pregnancy, persistent trophoblastic disease, placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) and choriocarcinoma. Although GTTs usually start in the womb, they behave very differently from a cancer of the womb. They are also treated differently from womb cancer.
If you are looking for information about womb cancer (also known as uterine or endometrial cancer) this section is not for you. You need to go to the womb cancer section of CancerHelp UK.
Gestation means pregnancy and trophoblast describes cells that are part of the normal development of a baby. Usually, after a sperm fertilises an egg, new cells grow to form an embryo. As the embryo grows, its cells start to specialise. Some cells start to form the baby (foetus) and others form the placenta. The placenta protects and nourishes your baby during pregnancy.
The first layer of cells that develops into the placenta is called the trophoblast. The trophoblast produces tiny, finger like, outgrowths known as villi. These villi attach the placenta to the lining of the womb. In a molar pregnancy, the foetus either doesn’t develop at all, or is abnormal and not able to grow normally. The villi may swell up and grow in clusters - a bit like bunches of grapes. If you have a persistent GTT or choriocarcinoma, some trophoblastic cells grow abnormally and develop into a tumour. These tumours can spread outside your womb.
The most common type of GTT is molar pregnancy and these are not cancer - they are benign. Rarely, a molar pregnancy can become cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body. Treatment is available for all types of GTTs. Nearly all of them are curable, whether cancerous or non cancerous.
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The medical descriptions for GTT are all quite long and sound complicated. Other terms that may be used for these types of tumours include
- Trophoblastic disease
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
- Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN)
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