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 IB1 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. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).