Gestational Trophoblastic Tumors: A Timely Review of Diagnostic Pathology

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2019 Jan;143(1):65-74. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2018-0234-RA. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Abstract

Context.—: Gestational trophoblastic tumors include 3 distinct entities: gestational choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor, and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor. Accurate diagnosis is important for clinical management of the patient.

Objective.—: To review clinical features and pathologic diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic tumors.

Data sources.—: Literature and personal experience are the sources for this study.

Conclusions.—: Trophoblastic tumors are rare encounters in modern medicine, as a result of clinical practice of molar surveillance programs and early chemotherapeutic intervention for persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Diagnostic recognition of these tumors requires a high index of suspicion, awareness of their histologic characteristics, and appropriate application of immunohistochemical and molecular biomarkers. Recent attention has been given to a few precursor lesions of gestational trophoblastic tumors, including early/in situ choriocarcinoma and atypical placental site nodule.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Choriocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Choriocarcinoma / pathology
  • Female
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / diagnosis*
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / pathology
  • Humans
  • Placenta / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site / diagnosis*
  • Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site / pathology
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology