Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Stages

A cancer’s stage explains how large the primary tumor is and how far the cancer has spread in the patient’s body. Doctors use the information to understand the disease and develop a treatment plan.

There are several different staging systems. Many of these have been created for specific kinds of cancers. Others can be used to describe several types of cancer.

The stages of gestational trophoblastic disease are set by FIGO, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. They range from stage I to stage IV. Higher numbers mean the cancer is more advanced and generally harder to treat.

Gestational trophoblastic disease stages

(Source: National Cancer Institute)

Stage I gestational trophoblastic disease

In stage I, the tumor is in the uterus only.

Stage II gestational trophoblastic disease

In stage II, the tumor has spread beyond the uterus to the ovary, fallopian tube, vagina, and/or the connective tissues around the uterus.

Stage III gestational trophoblastic disease

In stage III, the tumor has spread to the lung, with or without spread to the ovary, fallopian tube, vagina, and/or the connective tissues around the uterus.

Stage IV gestational trophoblastic disease

In stage IV, the tumor has spread to distant parts of the body other than the lungs.