Tests for persistent trophoblastic disease and choriocarcinoma

Persistent trophoblastic disease and choriocarcinoma are rare types of tumour that form in the womb after a molar pregnancy or some normal pregnancies. This link takes you to general information about gestational trophoblastic tumours.

When you are pregnant your placenta produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). You need this hormone for your baby to develop. Your placenta releases hCG into your bloodstream and you pass the rest in your urine. HCG isn’t normally found in the blood or urine of women who aren’t pregnant.

HCG is also produced by gestational trophoblastic tumours (GTTs), usually at much higher levels than in a normal pregnancy. So measuring the levels of hCG in your blood and urine can help diagnose a GTT. It also plays an important part in checking how well your treatment is working and in picking up GTTs that have come back after treatment.

Your doctor may also do blood tests for signs of anaemia and to see how well your liver and kidneys are working.

An ultrasound scan can diagnose many women with a GTT. With a normal pregnancy, your scan shows a picture of the baby developing inside your womb. But with persistent trophoblastic disease or choriocarcinoma the scan may show a ball of cells with lots of blood vessels.

It is routine after the birth of a baby to look at the placenta carefully to check it is healthy. A doctor also routinely examines the tissue under a microscope if you’ve had a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

Your doctor will ask you to come back to the hospital when your test results have come through. But this is bound to take a little time, even if only a few days. This is a very anxious time for most people. 

While you are waiting for results it may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you are feeling. Or you may want to contact a cancer support group to talk to someone who has been through the same experiences.

Our GTT organisations page gives details of people who can help and support you. You can also find details of counselling organisations in our counselling section. Our GTT reading list has information about books and leaflets on gestational trophoblastic tumours and their treatment.