Human chorionic gonadotrophin producing epithelioid sarcoma metastatic to the placenta

Pregnancy complicated by sarcoma is a rare event, and metastasis to the placenta is exceptionally rare. Of reported malignancies involving the products of conception, only 8% are sarcomas. We report the first case of placental metastasis of an epithelioid sarcoma, an uncommon malignancy which most frequently affects young adults. In addition to the typical histological features and immunophenotypic profile expected of epithelioid sarcoma, this tumor also expressed human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Although uncharacteristic, the production of HCG has been previously reported in other nontrophoblastic tumors. It may have contributed to the pathogenesis of the tumor metastatic to the placenta in this case.