Demographic variables of gestational trophoblastic disease in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Summary

The aim of the study was to map out the pattern of referral of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) presenting to a large tertiary referral centre, from the health districts of KwaZulu Natal province, South Africa, and to determine the demographic variables in the presentation of the disease. This retrospective study reviewed the clinical charts of 98 patients managed at the combined gynaecology/oncology clinic over a 5-year period. The types of GTD included molar pregnancy 50 (51%), choriocarcinoma 46 (46%) and placental site trophoblastic tumour 2 (2%). The majority of patients were referred by the district or regional hospitals (63.3%), followed by self-referrals (23.5%). There were 51 (52%) patients from eThekwini health district and only 25 patients (25.4%) from the Northern health districts. With regard to previous pregnancy state, 63.3% (n = 62) had term pregnancy, 13.3% (n = 13) had previous miscarriage and 2% (n = 2) had previous ectopic pregnancy. Five patients (5.1%) had previous molar pregnancy. We did not find a trend of referral of patients being predominantly from the Northern regions of KwaZulu Natal.