Gestational trophoblastic disease in women aged 50 or more.

Twenty cases of gestational trophoblastic disease in women aged 50 or more are reported. The lesions were 7 hydatidiform mole (35%), 8 invasive mole (40%), and 5 choriocarcinoma (25%). The most common presenting symptom was abnormal vaginal bleeding. Three choriocarcinoma patients were postmenopausal and all of them had choriocarcinoma. None of the patients with hydatidiform mole or invasive mole died of the disease, but 4 of 5 choriocarcinoma patients died of the disease. Because of the high rate (56.3%) of malignant sequelae after molar evacuation, a primary hysterectomy for the treatment of hydatidiform mole in this age group is recommended. It is important to maintain a high level of suspicion for the diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease in the elderly women.