The role of hysterotomy in the management of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2006 Mar-Apr;16(2):882-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1438.2006.00585.x.

Abstract

The management of late gestational trophoblastic disease recurrence is challenging. We present a case of a 16-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a gestational trophoblastic neoplasia 14 months after her hydatidiform mole pregnancy. A staging was performed revealing only an intramural lesion, which resembled a myoma, in the fundus of the uterus. Despite two course of methotrexate, the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level increased slowly. The presentation was highly suggestive for a placental site trophoblastic tumor. A local resection of the tumor by hysterotomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed a choriocarcinoma with tumor-free surgical margins. Subsequently, the patient received three cycles of EMA-CO (etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine). At present, 89 months after the hysterotomy, the patient is well, with no sings of recurrence. This report illustrates that it is mandatory to have a histologic diagnosis of chemoresistant gestational trophoblastic neoplasia before performing definitive surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Dactinomycin / therapeutic use
  • Etoposide / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / diagnosis
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / drug therapy
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Hysterotomy*
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Uterine Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Uterine Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Dactinomycin
  • Vincristine
  • Etoposide
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Methotrexate

Supplementary concepts

  • EMA-CO protocol