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Journal of Clinical Pathology 2006;59:1307-1308; doi:10.1136/jcp.2005.030734
Copyright © 2006 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Association of Clinical Pathologists.

CASE REPORT

Epithelioid trophoblastic tumour: a case report and review of the literature

P M L H Vencken1, P C Ewing2, R P Zweemer1

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2 Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
P M L H Vencken
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Drive Molewaterplein 60, PO Box 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; p.vencken{at}erasmusmc.nl

ABSTRACT

Epithelioid trophoblastic tumour (ETT) is an unusual type of trophoblastic tumour, which can cause difficulties in diagnosis and (as a consequence) in treatment. The literature suggests that surgery should be the treatment of choice for ETT as it is not responsive to chemotherapeutic agents, used in the treatment of other types of gestational trophoblastic diseases. This case report describes an ETT, which was initially diagnosed as a carcinoma of the cervix. Surgical management was chosen based on the literature. 6 months later the patient also developed a plasmacytoma and was treated with radiotherapy. The occurrence of ETT and plasmacytoma in combination has never been described before. This case report describes a rare case of an atypical trophoblastic tumour, with problematic differential diagnosis. Treatment of carcinoma of the cervix would have necessitated postoperative radiotherapy, but on diagnosis of ETT, surgical management was considered sufficient. Hence, it is important to consider the occurrence of ETTs, although rare, in patients with atypical cervical or endometrial cancer, and in patients diagnosed with a gestational trophoblastic tumour, who do not respond to appropriate chemotherapy.

Abbreviations: ETT, epithelioid trophoblastic tumour; GTD, gestational trophoblastic disease; HCG, human chorionic gonadotropin


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