Brazil Study Finds Cesarean Increases Gestational Trophoblastic Cancer Risk

A research team from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Harvard University Center for Trophoblastic Disease analyzed data from 2,904 patients treated between 2002 and 2022. The study found that women who had undergone a cesarean section had a 45% higher risk of developing gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) compared with those who had not. Specifically, 26.5% of the cesarean group developed GTN versus 20.8% of the non‑cesarean group.

GTN, a rare cancer arising from placental cells, affects roughly one in every 200–400 pregnancies in Brazil, with about 2,900 cases reported annually. The researchers controlled for other risk factors and highlighted the large patient volume at UFRJ’s Maternidade Escola, which treats around 80 GTN patients each week. The findings suggest a need to reassess cesarean practices and monitor post‑cesarean patients for early signs of GTN.