An invasive molar pregnancy is a kind of tumor belonging to the category of gestational trophoblastic tumor (GTT). Although most molar pregnancies are non-malignant, it is possible that they can spread beyond the uterus in some women; despite the fact that it has the tendency to spread healing is possible.
Some women who have had a molar pregnancy and have undergone treatment to get it removed may still have some residual tissue remaining in them. In almost all cases with the help of an ultrasound scan, molar pregnancy is detected.
This residual tissue can grow into the muscles and prove to endanger the surrounding organs. This growth is known as invasive molar pregnancy or molar pregnancy choriocarcinoma and the most common symptom that women experience at such times is unpredictable or persistent bleeding after the removal of the abnormal tissue.
Invasive molar tissue can be problematic is it spreads to other organs in the body, including the respiratory organs, liver or brain. Invasive molar pregnancy takes place only in women of procreative age. An invasive mole occurs in approximately 10 to 20 percent of all complete molar pregnancy cases and 6 to 10 percent of all partial molar pregnancy cases. Choriocarcinoma on the other hand takes place in approximately three percent of complete molar pregnancies but seldom in partial molar pregnancies.
Ideally after a molar pregnancy the woman is expected to go for regular follow-ups and needs to be closely monitored by doctors in addition to going for regular blood and urine tests.
These tests are to be done in order to supervise hCG levels in molar pregnancy. The hormone hCG known as human chorionic gonadotrophin is usually produced during in normal pregnancy, but in the case of gestational trophoblastic tumor, such as an invasive molar pregnancy the body produces it at elevated levels. If the hCG levels do not come down even after the elimination of the molar pregnancy, and instead continues to rise, it means that the woman might be experiencing invasive disease and would require intensive and further treatment.
Women who are suffering from molar pregnancy cancer need to have molar pregnancy chemotherapy. In extremely rare cases the tumor goes away on its own (impromptu). Chemotherapy usually works quite well for invasive molar pregnancy, and the prognosis for women with invasive mole is extremely positive and good. A majority of the women with invasive molar pregnancy are cured of the illness and many go on to give birth to children.