Choriocarcinoma with pulmonary and cerebral metastases

Singapore Med J. 2008 Oct;49(10):e286-8.

Abstract

Choriocarcinoma is an aggressive tumour. Uncommonly, it spreads distantly, and rarely results in pulmonary and brain metastases. Its prognosis is generally good when treated. We report a 33-year-old woman with fever, haemoptysis and asthenia. One month after the appearance of metrorrhagia, she was diagnosed to have choriocarcinoma with pulmonary metastasis. After chemotherapy, pulmonary images disappeared and human chorionic gonadotropin returned to normal. She was re-admitted with neurological signs ten months later, confirming recurrence of the disease with brain metastasis. She was treated with surgery and polychemotherapy, with a favourable outcome and disappearance of the disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Asthenia / etiology
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Choriocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Choriocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Choriocarcinoma / therapy
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / diagnosis
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / pathology*
  • Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / therapy
  • Hemoptysis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Pregnancy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / therapy

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin