At Penn Medicine, our minimally invasive techniques, such as robotic-assisted surgery, have become the standard of care for treating gynecologic cancers. If you have surgery for gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), your doctors will follow up with regular blood tests to measure your levels of beta-HCG, a hormone that can be a sign of GTD.
Two types of surgery are most often used to treat GTD:
- Suction Curettage
- Hysterectomy
Suction Curettage for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
Suction curettage, also called a dilation and curettage (D & C) with suction evacuation, is a procedure that opens (dilates) the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus, and uses a small instrument to remove the lining of the uterus. This may be done if you have a molar pregnancy.
Hysterectomy for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus. This option is most often used if you do not want to become pregnant in the future. Hysterectomies can be full or partial. A radical hysterectomy removes the uterus and its surrounding tissues. This often includes an examination of the lymph nodes, to see if the cancer has spread.
Hysterectomy can be performed as an open procedure or through the vagina. Vaginal hysterectomy can be done as a minimally invasive procedure, using a laparoscope or robot-assisted surgery.
Penn Medicine’s team of experienced surgeons perform a variety of types of hysterectomy and a high volume of gynecologic cancer surgeries every year. Your doctor will consider your medical history, stage of cancer, and current health conditions to determine the type of surgery that’s right for you.
Learn more about treatment options for GTD at Penn Medicine