Sonographic image of cervix epithelioid trophoblastic tumor coexisting with mucinous adenocarcinoma in a postmenopausal woman: A case report

Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Sep;96(38):e7731. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007731.

Abstract

Rationale: Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) is a distinctive but rare gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) composed of chorionic-type intermediate trophoblast cells. Approximately 50% ETT arose from the uterine cervix or lower uterine segment following a previous pregnancy with vaginal bleeding. With its unusual ability to simulate an invasive epithelioid neoplasm, ETT frequently poses a diagnostic challenge, especially involving the uterine cervix.

Patient concerns: We herein report the case of a 60-year-old female with persistent vaginal bleeding and middle-level elevation of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Ultrasound revealed a 3.0 × 2.7 cm well-circumscribed, strongly echogenic lesion in the cervix, with a peripheral pattern of Doppler signals. The enhanced pattern by contrast-enhanced ultrasound displayed strong peripheral enhancement accompanied with globular appearance, then centripetal filling completely, and fading away rapidly.

Diagnoses: The final pathological diagnosis was ETT accompanying mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Interventions: Due to the pre-operative evaluation of a presumed IB2 cervix mucinous adenocarcinoma, the patient was treated with 2 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy.

Outcomes: The patient is currently disease-free for the past 1 year.

Lessons: This case report demonstrates that sonographic image of tumor shapes and blood flow could be helpful in differentiating ETT from another GTN and enable more accurate diagnosis before treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / complications
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmenopause
  • Trophoblastic Neoplasms / complications
  • Trophoblastic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler / methods
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / complications
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / complications
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / etiology