title: Historical, morphological and clinical overview of placental site trophoblastic tumors: from bench to bedside.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a form of gestational trophoblastic disease that originates from the implantation of an intermediate trophoblast. It was described for the first time by Von F. Marchand in 1895 as belonging to chorioepithelioma sui generis, a pathological condition with many variations and a progressive degree of malignancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have conducted a literature review in MEDLINE about epidemiology, etiopathogenesis and clinical features of PSTT. Moreover, a case that occurred in our institution was reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our research has highlighted that existing published data about PSTT are not uniform. The number of cases described in the literature has updated and the clinical features of selected "case series" of patients diagnosed with PSTT were showed. The etiopathogenesis was discussed. It was noted that current prognostic factors still allow important information regarding PSTT to be obtained, albeit fragmentary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of uniformity in data collection seen so far has limited full knowledge of PSTT. For this reason, we suggest a model (PSTT model) that collects and unifies PSTT evidence as this would be useful to identify worldwide precise prognostic factors, which are still lacking. When PSTT is diagnosed, the proper procedure seems to be total hysterectomy, with sampling of pelvic lymph nodes and ovarian conservation. For advanced-stage diseases, (stage III and IV) a combination of surgery and polychemotherapy is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morpho-Functional Images, 1st floor Biologic Tower, A.O.U. Policlinic "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy. giuseppe.santoro@unime.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8579-7770
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood " G. Barresi", A.O.U. "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio Simone
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morpho-Functional Images, 1st floor Biologic Tower, A.O.U. Policlinic "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood " G. Barresi", A.O.U. "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barresi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood " G. Barresi", A.O.U. "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giacobbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood " G. Barresi", A.O.U. "G. Martino", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palmara
mesh_terms: D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018245:Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Epidemiology; Gestational trophoblastic disease; Gestational trophoblastic tumors; Historical overview; Placental site trophoblastic tumor