Placental site trophoblastic tumour: a rare but potentially curable cancer- Clinical experience at the Trophoblastic Disease Screening and TreatmentCentre, Sheffield, UK

Placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) is a rare form of gestational tr ophoblastic disease (GTD). We have conducted an analysis of all cases of PS TT managed at the Trophoblastic Disease Screening and Treatment Centre, She ffield, from 1984 to 1996. During this time we received 4988 registrations far GTD and managed seven cases of PSTT, A large range of interval between antecedent pregnancy and presentation was observed - the most common presen ting symptoms being irregular vaginal bleeding with or without preceding am enorrhoea. Three out of seven patients had disease confined to the uterus a t diagnosis and were successfully treated by hysterectomy alone. Two out of seven patients had pulmonary metastases in addition to uterine tumour and were treated with combination chemotherapy - both are alive and well. Of th e remaining two patients one had distant and the other loco-regional metast ases and both died despite numerous therapeutic interventions. (C) 2000 Can cer Research Campaign.