It is cancer of the placenta, the tissue that links foetus with the uterus of the mother during pregnancy. It is a rare cancer.
Causes
It develops from an abnormality of the placenta called hydatidiform mole. This cancer of the placenta spreads very quickly in all parts of the body. It may show itself in the mother after abortion or miscarriage or pregnancy.
Symptoms
· Continued vaginal bleeding after delivery.
· Abdominal pain.
· Cough due to spread of the cancer in the lungs.
· Nervous system symptoms due to spread in different parts of it.
Diagnosis
· Routine: Blood: Hb, TLC, DLC, ESR may be normal.
· Special: Increase in the level of human chorionic ganodotrophin in the serum.
· Additional: X-ray of the chest, for locating the spread of cancer over there.
· CT scan of the brain for the spread of cancer in the brain.
Treatment
· Surgery: It has no role.
· Radiation: It has no role.
· Chemotherapy: It can cure the cancer. Methotrexate is the drug of choice. Even if the cancer has spread in all parts of the body, it can be cured with it.
Early Detection
Signs & Symptoms
· Continued vaginal bleeding after delivery.
Investigations
· Increase in the level of human chorionic gonadotrophs in the serum.