ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this study was to review clinical data of metastasia lesion of gestation trophoblastic tumor (GTT) in abdominopelvic cavity by color Doppler ultrasound. Subjects and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 13 cases of GTT in China was performed. Clinical appearances, serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, sonographic findings, Doppler waveforms, and patient outcomes were followed up. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed to diagnose the presence of GTT, detect metastasia lesion in abdominopelvic cavity, assess disease recurrence, and monitor the efficacy of chemotherapy. Results: Of the 13 patients with GTT, 4 had choriocarcinoma which 3 cases occurred after an abortion, 1 after a year of dilation and suction evacuation for the hydatidform mole. Metastasia lesion in abdominopelvic cavity was detected by color Doppler ultrasound in all cases of choriocarcinoma, among which the metastasia lesion were found at uterine fundus, near uterus, colon and cystic vascular space near the uterus, repectively. 9 cases with an invasive hydatidiforn mole (IHM) occurred after one to three months of dilation and suction evacuation for the hydatidform mole, consistant with the hCG levels markedly elevating. Metastasia lesion in abdominopelvic cavity was also detected by color Doppler ultrasound besides invasive lesion in uterine muscular layer in all cases of IHM, among which 3 cases showed metastasia lesion in cystic vascular space near the uterus, 2 cases were detected in side wall of pelvic cavity, while the rest were found in abdominal cavity, right kidney, colon and near uterus, respectively. Meanwhile, the image of metastasia lesion with IHM was similar to choriocarcinoma’s. And the reticular structure, the cystic vascular space and solid lesion may be showed by ultrasound. The metastasia lesion had abundant flow. Doppler waveforms showed resistive indices of 0.34 (SD 0.07) for metastasia lesion. There was the same lower-impedance as invasive lesion in uterine muscular layer. Except an IHM with the renal metastasia lesion having been followed, abnormal sonographic and Doppler findings in other metastasia disease all disappeared after surgical operation or chemotherapy were successful. Conclusions: Sonography and Doppler imaging were helpful in detecting metastasia lesion in abdominopelvic cavity, and in following the effectiveness of chemotherapy. And it should be taken full examination for GTT by Color Doppler ultrasound in order to avoid mistake.