Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]-Treatment Option Overview

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI] - Treatment Option Overview

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI] Guide

• General Information About Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
• Cellular Classification of Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
• Stage Information for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
• Treatment Option Overview
• Hydatidiform Mole (HM) Management
• Low-Risk Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (FIGO Score 0–6) Treatment
• High-Risk Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (FIGO Score ≥7) Treatment
• Placental-Site Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor Treatment
• Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor Treatment
• Recurrent or Chemoresistant Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia Treatment
• Changes to This Summary (04 / 12 / 2013)
• About This PDQ Summary
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Pituitary hCG

The anterior stalk of the pituitary secretes luteinizing hormone (LH), which shares an alpha subunit with hCG. In normal menstrual cycles, pituitary generated hCG may be detectable at the time of the LH surge. Estrogen provides negative feedback for this LH secretion and acts as a suppressing agent. In patients in low-estrogen states (perimenopause, menopause, and status postoophorectomy), pituitary hCG may be secreted in increasing amounts, although only levels between 1 to 32 mIU/mL have been recorded.[1] To confirm a pituitary source for the hCG, patients are started on high-dose oral contraceptive pills to produce an exogenous source of estrogen. In general, patients with pituitary hCG will have their hCG levels suppressed after 3 weeks on this regimen.[1]

References:

1. Muller CY, Cole LA: The quagmire of hCG and hCG testing in gynecologic oncology. Gynecol Oncol 112 (3): 663-72, 2009.