[Morphological characteristics of normal trophoblast and choriocarcinoma]

A certain ratio of cyto- and syntrophoblast cells in the chorion is known to exist during a certain third of pregnancy. It was shown that cell differentiation taking place in the placental epithelium can occur in the same order during malignant transformation of the trophoblast, too. The histological type of tumor was found to be in correlation with the pattern of pregnancy (normal or pathologic) preceding the disease as well as with the stage of pregnancy termination. A significant difference in syncytial choriocarcinoma incidence after normal pregnancy (88.7 +/- 8.8%) and pathological one (41.2 +/- 11.2%) (t = 3.2) was registered. These findings can be interpreted on the basis of morphological characteristics of the disease, which should be considered in planning therapy. The results should also be taken into account when making prognosis.