Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor: a case report of a rare trophoblastic neoplasm.

Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor (ETT) is a rare neoplasm of the chorionic type intermediate trophoblastic cells. It is a neoplasm of reproductive age women and usually follows a gestational event. ETT can occur at both intra uterine and extra uterine sites and can be confused with other entities such as squamous cell carcinoma, placental site nodule, placental site trophoblastic tumor etc. Hence, proper diagnosis of this tumor is necessary to avoid unnecessary, excessive treatment as surgical treatment is considered sufficient for ETT. We present a case of ETT in a 36 year old female, who came with symptoms of pain abdomen, white discharge per vaginum and a cervical mass.

Study on retinol binding protein (RBP) receptor in hydatidiform mole trophoblastic cells.

Hydatidiform mole is an abnormal pregnancy characterized by the proliferation of cytotrophoblastic, syncytiotrophoblastic, and intermediate trophoblastic cells in histological specimens. Vitamin A plays a role in controlling cell proliferation, and decrease in vitamin A level will cause an uncontrollable proliferation. To date, it is not known whether there is a relationship between vitamin A deficiency and hydatidiform mole. This study aimed to demonstrate the presence of retinol binding protein (RBP) receptors in the hydatidiform mole trophoblastic cells, that would provide explanation on the relationship of vitamin A and hydatidiform mole. The study was a descriptive study. The specimens of the study were paraffin blocks of hydatidiform mole made in 2005, and the examinations were performed by indirect immunohistochemistry. We examined the distribution of the cells showing expression of RBP receptor, the strength of expression, and location of the expression. As many as 21 specimens were collected, and the distributions of RBP receptor expression in hydatidiform mole trophoblastic cells ranged from moderate to dense. The expression in syncytiotrophoblastic cells was stronger than that in cytotrophoblastic cells. Furthermore, the expressions were found in the cell membranes and cytoplasm.

A case of placental site trophoblastic tumor / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Placental site trophoblstic tumor(PSTT) is a rare variant of trophoblastic disease. This type of trophoblastic tumor apparently exhibits different biologic behaviors as compared with choriocarcinoma. Diagnosis is made by finding a predominance of intermediate trophoblasts and absence of fetal tissue in the dilatation and currettage specimens. The intermediate trophoblastic cells produce relatively little beta-hCG and hPL and unlike other trophoblastic tumors, they are frequently resistant to chemotherapy1. But patients with metastasis frequently exhibit a progression of disease and die despite of aggressive multiagent chemotherapy. We report a case of PSTT, in which a 36-year-old woman presented with vaginal bleeding after D&CB at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Despite of blood transfusion, the patient was under shock state, and hysterectomy was done. After hysterectomy, the pathological diagnosis was PSTT confirmed by immunohistochemical study, and the result was strong positive for hPL & cytokeratin but weak positve for beta-hCG2.