Diagnostic challenges in extrauterine epitheloid trophoblastic tumours: A report of two cases

Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor: Report of Two Cases in Postmenopausal Women with Literature Review and Emphasis on Cytological Findings

“…hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma, is seen in 50% of cases with an interval between 1 and 18 years from gestational trophoblastic tumor to presentation with ETT. With the increased reported cases in the literature, a history of prior gestational trophoblastic tumor seems to be present in around 20% of cases and a history of a prior normal pregnancy is reported in around 55% of cases [5,6,7,8]. The interval between prior gestation or gestational trophoblastic tumor and ETT can range from 2 weeks to 30 years [8,9].…”

“…With the increased reported cases in the literature, a history of prior gestational trophoblastic tumor seems to be present in around 20% of cases and a history of a prior normal pregnancy is reported in around 55% of cases [5,6,7,8]. The interval between prior gestation or gestational trophoblastic tumor and ETT can range from 2 weeks to 30 years [8,9]. Extrauterine ETT in the absence of a uterine tumor has been documented in the lung, parametrial tissue, broad ligament, liver, spine, orbit and lymph nodes [8,9,10,11,12,13,14].…”

“…The interval between prior gestation or gestational trophoblastic tumor and ETT can range from 2 weeks to 30 years [8,9]. Extrauterine ETT in the absence of a uterine tumor has been documented in the lung, parametrial tissue, broad ligament, liver, spine, orbit and lymph nodes [8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. …”

“…The most common presenting symptom is vaginal bleeding [5], which is associated with elevated hCG, with levels only mildly elevated (<2,500 IU/l) in contrast to high levels in cases of choriocarcinoma [2,5]. However, there is an occasional report of higher levels >100,000 IU/l [2,8,12]. The levels drop after surgical resection of the tumor [2].…”

“…In one of the cases reported by Macdonald et al [8], the patient was originally diagnosed with epithelioid leiomyosarcoma of the uterine cervix. Ten years after that diagnosis, she presented with metastatic disease in the lung, liver and cervical lymph nodes.…”