Premium
Persistent Chest Opacity in Trophoblastic Disease: Is Thoracotomy Justified?
Author(s) -
Wong L. C.,
Ma H. K.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1983.tb00586.x
Subject(s) - medicine , thoracotomy , chemotherapy , disease , gestational trophoblastic disease , surgery , general surgery , pregnancy , gestation , biology , genetics
Summary From 1972 to June 1980, 138 patients were admitted into the University Gynaecological Unit, Queen Mary Hospital for persistent gestational trophoblastic tumours. Forty had pulmonary metastases, all were treated by chemotherapy and 5 died shortly after commencement of treatment. The remaining 35 patients went into biochemical remission. Five of these patients had persistent chest shadows and 2 had evidence of active disease. Thoracotomy is of doubtful value both in therapy and in predicting prognosis. These patients have an increased risk of relapse. Close and long‐term follow‐up HCG assay is advocated.