[Case report and literature review of epithelioid trophoblastic tumor].

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.