Placental site trophoblastic tumor: a case report and review of the literature

Authors

  • Rita Lucas
  • Teresa Margarida Cunha
  • Filipa Batista Santos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v9i4.2146

Keywords:

Placental site trophoblastic tumor, Gestational trophoblastic disease, Uterus, Ultrasound, Magnetic resonance

Abstract

We present a case of a gravida 1 para 1  woman, who presented with an 11-month history of amenorrhea after cesarean delivery. The patient was taking birth control pills at the time of presentation. She was observed with a slight elevation of serum ?-hCG level, an enlarged heterogeneous uterus and hematometra. A biopsy was performed, and the patient was diagnosed with placental site trophoblastic tumor; the patient then underwent surgery. Placental site trophoblastic tumor is the rarest form of gestational trophoblastic disease, derived from intermediate trophoblast cells. It does not have a pathognomonic appearance; therefore, correlation with medical history, as well as results of laboratory tests and pathological analysis is mandatory. It is a relatively chemoresistant tumor, posing considerable therapeutic challenges; patients with localized disease are managed with surgery and those with metastatic disease require additional chemotherapy. Herein, we review the main features of this entity and top differential diagnosis, as the rarity of this tumor is associated with imaging and pathological pitfalls, reinforcing the need for further experience in this field.

Author Biographies

Rita Lucas

Department of Radiology

Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos, CHLC, Lisboa, Portugal

Teresa Margarida Cunha

Department of Radiology 

Instituto Portuguíªs de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Lisboa, Portugal

 

Filipa Batista Santos

Department of Pathology

Instituto Portuguíªs de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Lisboa, Portugal

Published

2015-04-19

Issue

Section

Obstetric & Gynecologic Radiology