Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, management and prognosis of gestational trophoblastic disease in women aged 50 years or more.
Methods: Thirty-eight cases of gestational trophoblastic disease in women aged 50 years or more, who were treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 1992 and 2002, were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: The median age was 52 years (range from 50 to 58 years). The lesions included 5 hydatidiform moles (13%), 19 invasive moles (50%), 12 choriocarcinomas (32%) and 2 placenta site trophoblastic tumors (5%). All of 38 cases presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Twenty-three cases of hydatidiform moles were diagnosed at their first visit to the hospital, and 15 of them received prophylactic chemotherapy, of whom 10 progressed to invasive mole, 3 developed lung metastasis. All of the other 8 cases without prophylactic chemotherapy progressed to malignant changes with metastasis of lung. The use of prophylactic chemotherapy reduced the incidence of subsequent metastasis. All of 38 cases received chemotherapy. Thirty-two cases underwent hysterectomy, complete remission was achieved in 91% of patients; complete remission was achieved in 2 of 6 patients without hysterectomy.
Conclusions: The diagnosis of pregnancy and pregnancy-related disease should be considered in the elderly women presenting with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Once gestational trophoblastic disease in women aged 50 years or more is diagnosed, chemotherapy should be given as soon as possible. Hysterectomy is frequently required to improve the prognosis of gestational trophoblastic disease in the elderly women.