Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia laboratory findings

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Monalisa Dmello, M.B,B.S., M.D. [2]

Overview

Elevated serum human chorionic gonadotropin is diagnostic of choriocarcinoma.^[1]^[2]

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG or b-HCG) is the most common tumor marker test used to diagnose GTD^[1]
HCG is markedly elevated (usu. >10,000 IU)^[2]
HCG is a very sensitive test for diagnosing most gestational trophoblastic tumors
HCG is usually measured in the blood, but it can also be measured in the urine
HCG levels are much higher in women with complete hydatidiform moles and gestational choriocarcinoma compared to HCG levels in women with a normal pregnancy
With partial moles, the HCG level is higher than normal, but it is not as high as with other types of GTD
With placental site tumors, the HCG level may be slightly higher than normal, but it is not considered a good marker for this type of tumor
An HCG test can help find GTD after pregnancy or miscarriage as this hormone should not be present in the blood or urine soon afterward

Human placental lactogen (hPL) is a tumor marker that may be used to follow women with placental site trophoblastic tumors
Elevated hPL levels are found in women with some types of GTD

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Diagnosing gestational trophoblastic disease. Canadian Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/gestational-trophoblastic-disease/diagnosis/?region=ns Accessed on October 13, 2015
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Choriocarcinoma. librepathology.org. http://librepathology.org/wiki/index.php/Choriocarcinoma Accessed on October 8, 2015