Ultrasound-guided local injection of methotrexate to treat an invasive hydatidiform mole

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2004 Jun;30(3):202-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2004.00179.x.

Abstract

A 28-year-old Japanese woman had an invasive hydatidiform mole which was diagnosed by means of transvaginal ultrasonography. After the two initial courses of systemic methotrexate (MTX) therapy given over a period of weeks, the tumor was 14 mm in diameter and the surrounding blood supply remained rich. In addition to the two initial courses of systemic MTX therapy, local ultrasound-guided injection of MTX therapy was given three times, once per week. After the local MTX treatment, the betahCG level, which had been as high as 240 ng/mL, dropped to less than 0.1 ng/mL. We then gave two additional courses of systemic MTX therapy (once per week). More than 3 years have passed since the final systemic MTX therapy, and the patient's serum betahCG levels continue to be less than 0.1 ng/mL. An invasive mole can be treated with an ultrasound-guided local injection of MTX in addition to the established systemic MTX treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / administration & dosage*
  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Gravidity
  • Humans
  • Hydatidiform Mole / diagnosis*
  • Hydatidiform Mole / diagnostic imaging
  • Hydatidiform Mole / drug therapy*
  • Hydatidiform Mole / pathology
  • Injections, Intralesional
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Pregnancy
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Uterine Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Methotrexate