Gestational trophoblastic disease in Sanliurfa, southeast Anatolia, Turkey.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: This study was carried out to determine if the extremely high rate of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) previously reported from a center in Southeast Anatolia also applied in our area.

METHODS

Records of GTD and deliveries in all hospitals in Sanliurfa during the period July 1998 to October 2003 were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

During the period, there were 6016 deliveries and 73 cases of GTD identified, giving an incidence of GTD of 12.1 per 1000 deliveries. Of these cases, 66 (90.4%) were diagnosed as having hydatidiform mole (64 complete and 2 partial), two (2.7%) invasive mole and five (6.9%) choriocarcinoma. Vaginal bleeding was the most common symptom. No clear correlations were found with gravidity or age.

CONCLUSION

We confirmed that the incidence of GTD in Southeastern Anatolia is much higher than the national average and one of the highest in the world. Thus we explored possible reasons for this and suggest areas for further study.