Late spontaneous resolution of persistent molar pregnancy

To determine the outcome of women with persistently raised but falling human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels 6 months after surgical evacuation of a molar pregnancy.

An 11-year retrospective review.

The United Kingdom supra-regional trophoblastic disease treatment centres at Weston Park Hospital (Sheffield) and Charing Cross Hospital (London).

Women with raised but falling serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels 6 months after evacuation of a molar pregnancy.

Retrospective case note review of eligible women identified by the electronic databases held at each supra-regional centre.

The proportion of women that attain normal hCG levels spontaneously without chemotherapy. In addition, rates of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), drug resistance, disease relapse and overall survival are reported.

Thirty-five women with molar pregnancy and raised but falling serum hCG levels continued surveillance 6 months after evacuation. Levels of hCG in 30 of the patients (86%) fell to normal levels spontaneously. One woman defaulted follow up prior to hCG normalisation (3%) and the remaining four women (11%) were treated with chemotherapy due to a plateau or rise in serum hCG levels indicating GTN. All treated women were successfully salvaged by either first (n = 1) or second line (n = 2) chemotherapy or found to have persistently raised low level hCG of uncertain clinical relevance (n = 1). No women developed relapsed disease and overall survival was 100%.

Women with a molar pregnancy and a raised but falling hCG level beyond 6 months from uterine evacuation can be safely observed with regular hCG monitoring and can usually avoid potentially toxic chemotherapy.

Women with treated molar pregnancy may avoid chemotherapy if 6-month hCG levels are raised but falling.