| Summary: | Gestational choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare cancer that occurs in women of childbearing age. The malignancy arises from the trophoblastic epithelium of the placenta, which is formed from embryonic tissue. Choriocarcinoma is one of several related gestational trophoblastic diseases, which include complete and partial hydatidiform mole, invasive mole, and the extremely rare placental site and epithelioid trophoblastic tumors. Because at least 50% of choriocarcinomas occur after a recognized hydatidiform mole, incidence patterns of the latter are of interest. The only established risk factors for choriocarcinoma are history of hydatidiform mole and maternal age. Both teenage mothers and mothers over age 35 have increased risk. Incidence rates appear to be highest in parts of Asia and in the Philippines. There is also evidence of an increased incidence among American Indians and among Inuits living in Canada and Greenland.
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