BACKGROUND: It is difficult to recognize epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) as a trophoblastic disease because of its rarity and growth pattern simulating a carcinoma. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old woman with stage IB(1) squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and a high serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) level underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. However, light microscopic findings and immunohistochemical studies with pan-cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, inhibin-alpha, beta-hCG, and human placental lactogen revealed ETT of the endocervix. The patient is alive with no evidence of disease 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Before the patient is resorted to radical surgical interventions for assumed cervical carcinoma, ETT should be ruled out in women of reproductive age with endocervical tumors and elevated serum beta-hCG levels.
BACKGROUND: It is difficult to recognize epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) as a trophoblastic disease because of its rarity and growth pattern simulating a carcinoma. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old woman with stage IB(1) squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and a high serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) level underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. However, light microscopic findings and immunohistochemical studies with pan-cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, inhibin-alpha, beta-hCG, and human placental lactogen revealed ETT of the endocervix. The patient is alive with no evidence of disease 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Before the patient is resorted to radical surgical interventions for assumed cervical carcinoma, ETT should be ruled out in women of reproductive age with endocervical tumors and elevated serum beta-hCG levels.