A rare case of placental site trophoblastic tumor

Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a very rare tumor of young women and unique form of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) representing a neoplastic transformation of intermediate trophoblastic cells that play a critical role in implantation. It accounts for 1-2% of all GTNs, incidence of it being 1 in 1,00,000 pregnancies. It displays a wide clinical spectrum from benign lesion within uterus to highly metastatic features with widespread features of metastasis and can be difficult to control even with surgery and chemotherapy. Unlike other forms of GTD, it is characterized by low β-hCG levels because it is a neoplastic proliferation of intermediate trophoblastic cells. PSTT can develop following all kind of pregnancies, whereas approximately 50% of PSTT cases occur after a normal pregnancy and other cases follow abortion, term delivery, ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancy. Histopathologically, PSTT has proliferation of intermediate trophoblastic cells and absence of villi. It shows less invasion of vascular tissue and using immune histochemistry revealed that PSTT cells expressed HPL more than β-hCG, characterized by increased expression of the HPL in histological section as well as serum. The most common presenting symptoms of PSTT are irregular vaginal bleeding associated with uterine sub involution. Patient can also be presented with amenorrhea, nephritic syndrome, abdominal pain, galactorrhea and hemoptysis. Hence any case of unusual bleeding should be investigated with dilation and curettage and βHCG levels. Although the majority of patients of the non-metastatic PSTT are cured by hysterectomy but in metastatic cases, it requires aggressive treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. Due to its seldom occurrence and uncharacteristic clinical presentation, to reach a correct diagnosis and management is a surgeon’s nightmare and can be very challenging.

Placental site trophoblastic tumor unprecedented by conception: a very rare presentation

Placental site trophoblastic tumour is the rare variant of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with incidence rate of approximately 1/100,000 of all pregnancies. Histologically it is characterized by intermediate trophoblastic cells with few syntical elements. The index report depict a 20 years old unmarried female with no history of conception presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding and mildly elevated serum β-HCG level. Multi-modality treatment was given and she had fair outcome.

Invasive mole diagnosed as vascular malformation of uterus: a case report

Gestational trophobalstic neoplasia encompasses invasive mole, placental site trophoblastic tumor, epitheloid trophoblastic tumor and choriocarcinoma. Here we report a 27 year old woman with invasive mole with severe anaemia who was initially misdiagnosed as a case of incomplete abortion with vascular malfomarmation of uterus. In view of uncontrolled bleeding per vaginum, nonspecific ultrasound findings and H/O failed dilatation and evacuation, exploratory laparotomy was decided upon and intraoperative finding was invasive mole. Hysterectomy was done.