Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of an isolated epithelioid trophoblastic tumor in recto‐uterine pouch

A 30-year-old Chinese woman with irregular vaginal bleeding was admitted to our department. Serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) was moderately elevated, and ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an irregular, retro-uterine lesion without intrauterine pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy was the primary consideration, with trophoblastic tumor being another possibility. Laparoscopy revealed a 2 x 3 x 3 cm(3) irregular, infiltrating, yellow-white lesion in the left recto-uterine pouch, which was completely resected without rectal damage. Final pathological/immunohistochemical analyses revealed an epithelial trophoblastic tumor (ETT) (Ki-67 reactive index similar to 45%). Postoperative recovery was smooth, and the patient received three chemotherapy courses (etoposide, methotrexate and actinomycin, alternating weekly with cyclophosphamide and vincristine) beginning 6 days postsurgery (beta-hCG = 46.4 mIU/mL). beta-hCG returned to an undetectable level after one chemotherapy course. Herein, we describe a rare case of isolated ETT that was difficult to differentiate from other pregnancy-related diseases. Laparoscopy could be an effective, safe diagnostic method in select patients.