The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in incidence and survival rates in patients with gestational choriocarcinoma, and to examine the prognostic importance of clinical stage and age. A population based analysis (retrospective study) of all patients with gestational choriocarcinoma reported to the Cancer Registry of Norway in the 40-year period 1953-92. One hundred and fifteen patients with gestational choriocarcinoma were examined. The main outcome measures the incidence rates per 1,000 live births, clinical stage distribution (FIGO classification), 5-year survival rates (Kaplan-Meier plot) and relative rates (RR). The incidence rates ranged from 0.028 to 0.096, but no temporal trend was observed. Most cases were classified into the clinical stages I (53.9%) and III (24.3%). A more favourable stage distribution was seen in the diagnostic period 1973-92 compared to 1953-72 (p<0.01). The 5-year survival rate (Kaplan-Meier plot) rose from 57.9% in the first period to 94.8% in the last period (p<0.001). The survival rate declined gradually with advancing stage of the disease. The 5-year survival rates (1953-92) in the succeeding stages I, II, III and IV were 93.5%, 80.0%, 64.1% and 26.7%, respectively. The multivariate analysis (GLIM) revealed that stage was an important prognostic factor (p=0.00), whereas age did not reach the significant level as prognostic factor (p=0.72).

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