Atypical placental site nodules (APSN) are a rare form of trophoblastic disease in pregnancy. There is limited research on APSN, and treatment methods are controversial, with unclear prognosis. This study collected clinical and prognostic data of 5 patients diagnosed with APSN at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from June 2008 to June 2023, aiming to provide a better understanding of the prognosis of APSN patients and offer scientific evidence for clinical treatment. The average age of the 5 APSN patients was 32.60 years, and all patients underwent dilation and curettage or hysteroscopic surgery or hysteroscopic surgery without hysterectomy. Except for one patient who was lost to follow-up after 30 days, the remaining 4 patients were followed up for 1.36 to 4.61 years. During the follow-up, gynecological ultrasound did not show abnormalities, and serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) tests were negative, with no evidence of malignancy. A search of both English and Chinese databases yielded 8 articles reporting the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up outcomes of APSN, with 37 cases cumulatively followed up. Among them, 2 (5.41%) cases developed epithelial trophoblastic tumors or placental site trophoblastic tumors during follow-up, but there is insufficient evidence to determine whether these tumors directly originated from APSN or were secondary to APSN. Currently, there is no direct evidence suggesting that APSN has the potential for malignant transformation. Patients with APSN who have completed their childbearing may consider preserving their uterus, but close follow-up is needed to further evaluate the prognosis.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site/pathology* ; Uterine Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Dilatation and Curettage ; Chorionic Gonadotropin/blood*

Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cervix Uteri ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Choriocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Placental Lactogen ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-18 ; metabolism ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Omentum ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype of placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT).

METHODSDuring the period from 1959 to 2005, a total of 1012 cases of gestational trophoblastic disease were diagnosed in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Six cases of PSTT and a case of ETT were retrieved from the archives of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Immunohistochemical study for cytokeratin 18, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), Mel-CAM (CD146), placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), inhibin-alpha and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were performed. The morphologic features and immunohistochemical findings were compared with those of the controlled group which consisted of 20 cases of early gestational villi with decidua basalis and 20 cases of hydatidiform moles with implantation site.

RESULTSThe mean age of patients with PSTT was 32.4, while the age of patients with ETT was 36. Major clinical findings included irregular vaginal bleeding and amenorrhea. Preoperative serum hCG level varied from normal to moderately elevated. Serum testosterone level was raised in 1 case. Uterine curettage could achieve an accurate pathologic diagnosis in 60% of cases. ETT involved mainly the lower uterine segment and endocervix. Histologically, PSTT cells permeated between the myometrial fibers and vessels either individually or connecting in cords or sheets in a manner reminiscent of the implantation site reaction. ETT composed of a relatively uniform population of mononuclear trophoblastic cells, clumping together in nests as the cell islets associating with eosinophilic, fibrillary and hyaline material and necrotic debris, forming a "geographic map" like pattern. Immunohistochemical study for hPL, hCG, Mel-CAM (CD146) and PLAP was most helpful for the differential diagnosis. The duration of follow-up varied from 14 months to 19 years. One case of PSTT developed metastasis in pancreas, 5 months after the operation. The remaining patients survived without tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSPSTT is a tumor of implantation site intermediate trophoblasts while ETT differentiates towards chorionic-type intermediate trophoblasts. The different pathologic features and immunophenotype observed were closely related with the difference in tumor cell differentiation. An accurate pathologic diagnosis of the uterine curettage material is important for the clinical management. According to the limited follow-up data available, the clinical behavior of ETT is seemed similar to that of PSTT.

Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; CD146 Antigen ; metabolism ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Placental Lactogen ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological features of intermediate trophoblastic non-tumor lesions, and to evaluate the position of immunohistochemistry in differential diagnoses.

METHODSClinical presentation and morphological study of 15 cases of exaggerated placental site (EPS) and 4 cases of placental site nodule or plaque (PSNP) were reviewed. Immunohistochemical stains for hCG, hPL, inhibin-alpha, PLAP, CK18 and Ki-67 were performed.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 25 to 40 years with an average of 31.5 years for EPS and 26 to 39 years with an average of 34.3 years for PSNP. Microscopically, EPS was characterized by cords and small sheets of implantation site intermediate trophoblasts infiltrating the endometrium, myometrium and arterial walls. The general histological structures of the endometrium and myometrium were preserved. PSNP was characterized by multiple circumscribed nodular lesions consisting of so-called chorionic-type intermediate trophoblasts and hyaline-like matrix present in the endometrium. Immunohistochemical stainings for hPL and CK18 were positive in the 15 EPS cases. Immunoreactivity for CK18, Inhibin-alpha and PLAP was detected in 4 PSNP cases. The Ki-67 labeling index in 15 EPS cases was low (< or = 5%), while Ki-67 index in 4 PSNP cases was close to 0.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical presentation and pathological features of EPS and PSNP differ from those of trophoblastic tumors (placental site trophoblastic tumor, epithelioid trophoblastic tumor and choriocarcinoma). Immunochemical staining is of great value in their differential diagnoses.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endometrium ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Inhibins ; metabolism ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Myometrium ; pathology ; Placenta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Placenta Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Placental Lactogen ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site ; pathology ; Trophoblasts ; pathology ; Uterine Neoplasms ; pathology