OBJECTIVE To evaluate the reproducibility of placental volume using three-dimensional ultrasound. METHODS The VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis) technique involves rotating an image of an object along an established axis using predefined angles. This provides a number of sections to measure manually, resulting in the object being displayed with an estimated placental volume. Four p...

Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a very rare variant of gestational trophoblastic tumor. It can occur after normal termination of pregnancy or spontaneous abortion and ectopic or molar pregnancy. There is a wide range of clinical manifestations from a benign condition to an aggressive disease with fatal outcome. One of the most important characteristics of PSTT, unlike other forms o...

HtrA1 is a secreted protein which behaves as a molecular chaperone at low temperatures and as a serine protease at high temperatures. When the placenta escapes the normal growth control mechanisms, which are present during normal pregnancy, it may develop trophoblastic diseases, such as hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma. The aim of the study is to investigate the expression of HtrA1 in thes...

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is highly chemosensitive and has a high cure rate. Since the introduction of chemotherapy, reliable measurement of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, and individualised risk-based therapy into the management of GTN, almost all low-risk and more than 80 % of high-risk GTN cases are curable. However, approximately 25 % of high-risk GTN developed r...

Thirteen patients with methotrexate-resistant metastatic trophoblastic disease have been treated with actinomycin D. Complete remissions were observed in six patients, and substantial response was noted in all but two cases. On the basis of these data, actinomycin D appears to be useful in the treatment of patients with per sistent metastatic trophoblastic disease following development of resis...

Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) is a rare gestational trophoblastic tumor. Cases of ETT present as abnormal vaginal bleeding in women of reproductive age, with low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. ETT can be a sequela of any gestational event and can present in both intrauterine and extrauterine sites. Metastasis and death have been reported. We present a case of a 44-year-old f...