[New aspects of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of trophoblastic tumours (author's transl)].

Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of gestational trophoblastic tumours has become more efficient through the introduction of new methods like angiography, computer tomography and, especially, the determination of specific chorionic gonadotrophin. Exact diagnosis, with differentiation of high- and low-risk patients allows an individual approach to treatment. The results of these new diagnostic and therapeutic methods were studied in a department with a relatively high incidence of gestational trophoblastic disease in a European region, where trophoblastic tumours are generally rare. (Since 1971 16 cases of trophoblastic tumour and 68 patients with hydatidiform mole were treated in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Graz.) Schedules were drawn up for the diagnosis, classification of risk and for treatment. This may help to get good results and to prevent errors in the future. Long-term determination of HCG beta in the serum and also comparative follow-up of LH and HCG in urine led to the formulation of further characteristics of gonadotrophin secretion after hydatidiform mole and treatment of trophoblastic tumours. On the basis of the results a regimen has been formulated which seems to be optimal for the detection of tumour after hydatidiform mole and for the registration of the effect of treatment in case of trophoblastic tumour.