Radiology, Vol 135, 419-222, Copyright © 1980 by Radiological Society of North America
The use of ultrasound in the evaluation of trophoblastic disease and its response to therapy
CK Requard and FA Mettler Jr
Thirty-nine patients with trophoblastic disease were studied to determine
the usefulness of ultrasound in identifying risk patterns and response to
therapy. Serial measurements of serum human chorionic gonadotropin-beta
subunit (HCG-BSU) were compared with ultrasonographic uterine and theca
lutein cyst volumes. In 16 patients ultrasound demonstrated theca lutein
cysts, many of which were not palpable on physical examination. Although
there was a significant decrease in uterine volume and a change in the
sonographic pattern following evacuation, volume slowly returned to normal
over a period of several months. Persistent trophoblastic disease was more
accurately detected by HCG-BSU measurements than by ultrasound. Persistent
disease developed in 44% of those patients who had theca lutein cysts and
in 22% of those without cysts. Patients with theca lutein cysts did not
consistently have higher HCG-BSU levels than patients without cysts, and it
is concluded that ultrasound is the best method for detecting these cysts.
