[Case report and literature review of epithelioid trophoblastic tumor]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT).

Methods: Six cases of ETT treated in Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University from 2005 to 2007 were retrospectively analyzed, together with a literature review.

Results: Six cases of ETT were diagnosed pathologically after surgery. The age of patients ranged from 27 to 46 years. The most common presentation was abnormal vaginal bleeding (5/6). The preceding gestational events were hydatidiform mole in 1 case, abortion in 2 cases, and term delivery in 3 cases. The interval between the preceding gestation and the diagnosis of ETT ranged from 15-48 months. The serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level was 46-121.47 IU/L. Four cases presented with metastasis, including lung metastasis in all of the 4 cases, liver metastasis in 1 case, and pancreas metastasis in another 1 case. The main therapies were surgery combined with chemotherapy. All of the 6 cases received total abdominal hysterectomy, and 1 case also had lung lobectomy. One case had a recurrence but refused any treatment again, and was lost to follow up; the therapy of 1 case unfinished; another 4 cases were without evidence of disease 9 to 19 months after surgery.

Conclusions: The confirmation of ETT diagnosis is difficult before surgery. Surgical management is mostly recommended in ETT. The role of chemotherapy in ETT is not clear yet.