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Background: Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant pregnancy-related trophoblastic neoplasm, characterized by early metastasis to the lungs. Therefore, patients may manifest nongynecological symptoms owing to distant metastases. The incidence of choriocarcinoma after a term pregnancy is really rare (1/160,000 pregnancies)., Case Presentation: We report a case of a 20-year-old Iranian woman, gravida 2 para 1 live 1 abortion 1, who was referred to our gynecology department with sudden onset dyspnea and pain in the left hemithorax the day after her labor. The index pregnancy was without any complications. After the initial workup, the elevation of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels (> 1,000,000) along with the identification of clinical (vaginal lesions) and radiological evidence of distant metastases (bilateral pulmonary nodes) directed us toward pulmonary metastatic choriocarcinoma diagnosis. After the oncology consult, the etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine chemotherapy regimen was started for the patient. She responded well to the treatment and is currently continuing her chemotherapy process., Conclusion: The prognosis of choriocarcinoma is very good if the treatment is started on time. We suggest that clinicians should consider gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in their differential diagnosis of the post-natal period complications, especially after a term and nonmolar pregnancy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Choriocarcinoma syndrome is an uncommon, potentially fatal complication of germ cell tumors (GCTs) in adults, but it is not well documented in children. Pediatric central nervous system (CNS) GCTs comprise a rare group of malignancies not usually associated with extra-CNS metastatic disease. Here, we report the case of a pediatric patient with a suprasellar mixed GCT and pulmonary metastases who presented with intratumoral hemorrhage and stroke. Choriocarcinoma syndrome developed soon after initiating chemotherapy. The primary tumor and pulmonary metastases were successfully treated using a multidisciplinary approach, including neurovascular intervention, chemotherapy, and craniospinal irradiation., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma (PPC) is frequently fatal due to difficulties in diagnosis. Few cases of PPC are bilateral and involve exceptionally large nodules. Here, we report an unusual case of PPC involving disseminated bilateral nodules, which was misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, but successfully treated using chemotherapy. A review of 65 cases revealed six cases of bilateral disease, including the present one. Patients treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination of both showed similar treatment outcomes; however, chemotherapy may be the preferred option. Despite its rarity, PPC should be included in the differential diagnosis for all lung nodules to enable early detection.

Objective: Presence of lung metastases in low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is generally considered not to influence prognosis. However, in a recent study in the Netherlands, GTN patients with lung metastases had a higher recurrence rate and more disease-specific deaths compared with patients without metastases. The aim of the present study was to validate these findings in a different country., Design: Historical cohort study., Setting: Charing Cross Hospital, United Kingdom., Population: A total of 1040 low-risk GTN patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) between 2002 and 2016 were identified: 65 with lung metastases (group 1) and 975 without metastases (group 2)., Methods: Baseline characteristics, MTX resistance, survival and recurrence rates were recorded and compared between both groups., Main Outcome Measures: MTX resistance, recurrence rate and survival., Results: The occurrence of MTX resistance and median number of MTX courses to achieve remission was significantly higher in patients with lung metastases than patients without metastases (60% versus 38.9%, P = 0.001; and nine versus six courses, P < 0.001). All choriocarcinoma patients (n = 4) with lung metastases developed MTX resistance. The recurrence rate was also higher in group I (9.2% versus 2.7%; P = 0.012). Disease-specific survival was 100% in both groups., Conclusions: The presence of lung metastases at the start of MTX therapy is associated with increased incidence of MTX resistance and recurrence in low-risk GTN without affecting overall survival, which remains 100%. However, individuals with low-risk choriocarcinoma with lung metastases are likely to become resistant to MTX and primary multi-agent chemotherapy should be considered., Tweetable Abstract: The presence of lung metastases appears to increase the risk of recurrence in low-risk GTN, but does not affect overall cure rates and survival., (© 2019 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Background: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia rarely occurs in term pregnancies. Stage IV choriocarcinoma treated with conventional chemotherapy can result in death as a result of hemorrhagic sequelae at tumor sites., Case: A 30-year-old woman at 34 weeks of gestation presented with a persistent cough, worsening dyspnea, and vaginal bleeding. Chest radiograph demonstrated innumerable lung nodules, and quantitative β-hcg concentration exceeded 1.3 million milli-international units/mL. Cesarean delivery was performed for presumed abruption. Placental pathology demonstrated choriocarcinoma, and imaging confirmed stage IV disease with a World Health Organization score of 14. Remission was achieved after two courses of low-dose induction chemotherapy followed by 10 cycles of combination chemotherapy., Conclusion: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia should be considered in a pregnant or postpartum woman presenting with atypical vaginal bleeding. Coexistent pulmonary or neurologic findings may suggest advanced disease.

Objective: Choriocarcinoma is rare in postmenopausal women, and an early diagnosis contributes to a potential cure., Methods: We report a rare case of a postmenopausal woman with choriocarcinoma. The 61-year-old patient presented with irregular vaginal bleeding, 11 years after menopause and 30 years after the birth of the last child., Results: Radiological investigation found a 3-cm mass on the lower left part of the vaginal wall, and also bilateral lung nodules. Gynecological examination found 3-4 cm blue and purple nodules in the lower left part of the vaginal wall. Her serum CA125 and serum β-hCG levels were 10.2 and 9273.9 mIU/mL, respectively. The early diagnosis was a choriocarcinoma, and combination chemotherapy (etoposide, kengshengmycin, methotrexate, leucovorin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide [EMACO]) was administered. After the sixth chemotherapy session, her serum β-hCG level was <2 mIU/mL, and two additional consolidation chemotherapy sessions were performed. She achieved serological remission, but 4 months after completion of the chemotherapy, a rise in serum β-hCG level was observed. Therefore, she was subjected to a second treatment with EMACO and fluorouracil (5-Fu) local injection chemotherapy. After nine chemotherapy sessions and three local 5-Fu injections, she showed a normal β-hCG level, with negative radiological results, and negative pigmentation in the lower left part of the vaginal wall. After a 4-year follow-up period, no local recurrence or distant metastases was found., Conclusions: This patient has shown a mild response to chemotherapy when compared with patients in reproductive age, and the combination of standard chemotherapy with local injection chemotherapy may be helpful for treating similar clinical cases.

Objective: Term pregnancy with choriocarcinoma is a rare condition that can be a serious health threat to both the mother and the fetus. We present a rare case of term pregnancy with choriocarcinoma presenting as severe fetal anemia and postpartum hemorrhage., Case Report: A 34-year-old woman, gravida 3 para 2, was admitted for profuse vaginal bleeding 2 weeks after cesarean delivery of a full-term anemic baby. Transvaginal sonography revealed a 4.7-cm×10.6-cm heterogenous lesion in the endometrial cavity. Dilatation and curettage was done and a pathologic report revealed choriocarcinoma. Metastatic workup showed lung metastasis. The patient achieved remission after eight cycles of chemotherapy in the form of etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine. There was no evidence of recurrence in the subsequent 3 years of regular follow up., Conclusion: Although fetomaternal hemorrhage is a rare form of presentation of choriocarcinoma, its presence should alert the physician to investigate the cause further. This chemotherapy regimen was effective in our case and the patient needed to be followed up carefully., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Choriocarcinoma is an aggressive malignant trophoblastic tumor that mostly occurs during reproductive years. Cytological features of choriocarcinoma in gynecologic Pap smears have not been described. Herein, we report a case of choriocarcinoma in a Pap smear of a patient who had a history of choriocarcinoma with metastatic disease., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Choriocarcinoma is a rare, highly malignant trophoblastic tumor with gestational or, rarely, germ cell origin. Primary extragenital localization is extremely rare. This report describes a choriocarcinoma case clinically mimicking a primary renal cell carcinoma with multiplex pulmonary metastases. Differentiation from a sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma with trophoblastic differentiation and identification of the exact origin, namely gestational or germ cell origin by molecular genetic methods is of great importance as it helps determine the prognosis and the most effective therapy of the disease. The Investigator Hexaplex ESS Kit was used for DNA polymorphism studies. This showed foreign alleles in the tumor DNA that confirmed the presence of paternal DNA and the gestational origin of the tumor.

A 40-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of metastatic testicular cancer. Computerized tomography revealed multiple lung, liver, and retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple brain metastases. Induction chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin was started the day after a high orchiectomy. The pathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen was yolk sac carcinoma. The serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was markedly increased to 630,000 mIU/ml, which suggested the presence of a choriocarcinoma element at metastatic sites. The patient subsequently suffered respiratory failure due to pulmonary hemorrhage. Intensive supportive care prevented a fatal outcome. Physicians who treat advanced testicular tumors should be aware of the potential complication of acute pulmonary hemorrhage, called choriocarcinoma syndrome, in cases with a high hCG level, which indicates a rapidly progressive and high-volume choriocarcinoma.

Background: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an extremely rare complication of solid tumors and is more frequently observed in patients with hematologic malignancies. This report describes a novel approach to the management of a rare case of TLS in metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN)., Case: A 17-year-old female presented 8 weeks postpartum with severe anemia, thyrotoxicosis, and elevated serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG). Imaging studies confirmed metastatic GTN to the lungs. The patient developed grade 4 TLS after the first cycle of etoposide, methotrexate, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMA-CO). She did not respond to standard treatment of aggressive hydration and allupurinol and continued to be in renal failure with elevated uric acid. A single dose of recombinant urate oxidase, rasburicase, rendered the uric acid level undetectable in 3 days and completely reversed the renal failure, avoiding hemodialysis. Three more cycles of EMA-CO were then administered. Subsequently, the patient developed congestive heart failure and was switched to single-agent actinomycin-D. Beta-hCG became negative after 5 cycles, and her ejection fraction returned to baseline., Conclusion: This is a rare case of TLS in the setting of metastatic GTN. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of utilizing rasburicase for the management of TLS in GTN.

A 53-year-old woman with choriocarcinoma (high-risk gestational trophoblastic disease: FIGO score 17) was treated with paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (AUC=5). The patient was treated with an EMA/CO regimen as initial chemotherapy, but she developed EMA/CO-induced interstitial lung disease after the 3rd course of treatment. After high-dose steroid therapy, she received combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Her hCG-/b dropped to <0.1 ng/mL after 11 courses of the chemotherapy. A paclitaxel+carboplatin regimen is potentially effective for high-risk GTD, but a more effective combination or schedule with a platinum-taxane regimen should be explored.

Background: Uterin choriocarcinoma is a trophoblastic tumour characterised by high metastasis potential. Pleuropulmonary metastasis can reveal rarely the neoplasm., Aim: Repport a new case., Case Report: We report the case of a 31-years-old woman, with no pathological antecedent, admitted in our department for thoracic pain and haemoptysis occurring two months after delivery of a did in child-birth. Chest X ray and thoracic CT scan showed several bilateral opacities. A diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma was confirmed by plasmatic level of beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG) superior to 4000 UI/ml. Gynaecological exam revealed latero-uterine mass. Abdomino-pelvien ultra sound and CT scan showed tissular latero uterine and hepatic masses. Brain CT scan had been normal. Patient died after 3 cures of chemotherapy because of acute respiratory failure caused by massive pulmonary embolism., Conclusion: Diagnosis of choriocarcinoma must be evocated in front of several pulmonary opacities occurring in genital activity women and necessities the dosage of level of BHCG.

Introduction: Choriocarcinoma is a rare tumour which results from the anarchic proliferation of a gonadic or extra gonadic germinal cell., Case Report: A 45 year old pre menopausal woman of African origin presented with a persistent cough and deterioration of general status. The chest X-ray revealed a cavitated mass of the right upper lobe. Other lesions were associated (liver, kidney and scalp). Choriocarcinoma, suspected in the presence of an elevated ssHCG without a gravid uterus, was confirmed by biopsy excision of a haemorrhagic cutaneous lesion of the scalp. Despite the poor prognosis methotrexate based chemotherapy resulted in control of the disease and a good remission.

Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare condition that is difficult to diagnose. In this report, we describe a case of primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma that presented with a hemothorax, initially diagnosed as an ectopic pregnancy. The patient was treated successfully with surgery followed by combination chemotherapy. In rare instances such as this, choriocarcinoma can originate in sites outside the genital tract; a thorough and thoughtful evaluation will ensure an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Objectives: Our objective was to explore the pathologic components of residual masses after primary chemotherapy in patients with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors., Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted of 71 patients with thoracic residual masses (39 patients had bilateral lung metastasis) after first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy for disseminated nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. Among the 71 patients, 52 also had a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection., Results: Pathologic findings in postchemotherapy residual masses included complete necrosis, teratoma, and viable cancer in 31%, 55%, and 14% of patients, respectively. Discordant pathologic findings were evidenced between retroperitoneal lymph node and thoracic (lung or mediastinal lymph nodes) residual masses in 27% of patients. When a bilateral pulmonary resection was performed, only 2 (5%) of 39 patients had discordant histologic findings between the two lungs. Among patients who had necrosis only in residual masses from their first lung (n = 20), 19 (95%) also had necrosis only in contralateral lesions. A single patient had necrosis only in the first lung and some teratoma in the contralateral lung., Conclusions: This report shows a high rate (95%) of pathologic concordance between the two lungs. Avoiding contralateral lung surgery could therefore be considered when complete necrosis is found in the first lung after induction chemotherapy for nonseminomatous germ cell tumor.

Background: Intraplacental choriocarcinoma is rare, and usually results in maternal metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Intraplacental choriocarcinoma involves both mother and infant is extremely rare. There was only one case report of intraplacental choriocarcinoma with confirmed metastases involving both the mother and the infant., Case: We describe a second case of intraplacental choriocarcinoma in a term placenta with both maternal and infantile metastases. Grossly, the primary lesion of the placenta resembled an old infarct. Microscopically, clusters of malignant trophoblasts arose from residual normal chorionic villi and infiltrated into the intervillous spaces. Both the mother and the infant received chemotherapy and were alive without disease after one year's follow-up., Conclusion: The optimal treatment for intraplacental choriocarcinoma is controversial. However, aggressive chemotherapy is suggested for patients with metastatic disease.

A 20-year old woman presented with acute right hemiplegia 10 weeks after intrauterine fetal death at 34-weeks gestation (G1P0). A brain MRI showed a typical acute infarct in the left middle cerebral artery territory. A CT pulmonary angiography carried out 1 week later for sudden cardiopulmonary deterioration showed disseminated pulmonary metastases. The CT was extended to the abdomen and pelvis, which showed a uterine mass with bilateral theca lutein cysts. The radiological diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma was made and was subsequently confirmed with the markedly increased serum beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin. A serum beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin is therefore considered worthwhile in any young female adult who presents with stroke.

Choriocarcinoma is an uncommon but rapidly invasive and widely metastasizing tumour. Lung is the commonest organ of spread, usually presenting as mild hemoptysis and chest pain in a patient with a recent miscarriage or known molar pregnancy. One such case of a 25 years old woman is reported who did not have any history of recent pregnancy or miscarriage and presented with a life-threatening massive hemoptysis. She responded well to therapy once the diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma was established .

Choriocarcinoma is present in one out of every 40,000 pregnancies. There is a great risk for incidence of the disease in women who become pregnant after 45 years of age. The clinical picture may vary and is related to the destruction of tissue and bleeding. New chemo protocols containing etoposide, cisplatin, ifosfamide, together with a resection of the focus resistant to chemotherapy, lead in most cases to the complete recovery.

Background: Choriocarcinoma mostly metastasizes to lung parenchyma. Its pulmonary tumor embolism and cardiac metastasis are very rarely encountered, of which antemortem diagnosis is even more rare., Case: To our knowledge, we present the first case of intracavitary cardiac metastasis and pulmonary tumor emboli of choriocarcinoma diagnosed and treated without any surgical intervention. Multi-agent chemotherapy led to almost complete regression of cardiac and pulmonary lesions and normalization of beta-hCG levels., Conclusion: Cardiac metastasis of choriocarcinoma must be kept in mind for cases of cardiac mass in reproductive age women, especially when history and clinical presentation are suggestive for gestational trophoblastic disease. As the tumor is highly sensitive, chemotherapy together with biochemical and radiological monitoring constitutes an effective treatment modality if cardiopulmonary functions are not deteriorating.

It is well known that antecedent term delivery and metastasis to sites other than the lungs and vagina are high risk factors for patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Here we report on a patient with choriocarcinoma who presented with brain and lung metastases after term delivery and was treated by EMA-CO chemotherapy. A 31-year-old woman delivered a healthy infant at term. Frequent episodes of hemoptysis occurred beginning 3 weeks after the delivery. On admission to our hospital, she had lesions in the uterus, lungs and brain as well as motor aphasia and hemiplagia. The pretreatment beta-hCG level was 21,000 ng/ml and the WHO score was 16 (high-risk group). The EMA-CO regimen was administrated as first-line chemotherapy and the patient achieved complete remission after 7 courses. Treatment was terminated after 11 courses and maintained with etoposide (25 mg/day) for 6 months. The patient has remained in complete remission for more than 16 years without other adjuvant therapies. We believe that EMA-CO can currently be considered the regimen of first choice for most high-risk patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in view of its effectiveness and excellent tolerability.

Objective: To investigate the indication of lung lobectomy in patients of malignant trophoblastic tumor with lung metastasis., Methods: Data on a total of 629 cases of malignant trophoblastic tumor of stage III-IV in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1990 to 2003 were reviewed. Ninety-five cases including those that underwent lung lobectomy and cases with normal level of serum human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit (beta-hCG, < 2 IU/L) and residual pulmonary nodules after chemotherapy were selected and studied., Results: Lung lobectomies were performed on six cases of invasive mole with lung metastasis and the pathological results were all necrotic nodules;another 35 cases of invasive mole with normal level of serum beta-hCG but residual pulmonary nodules after chemotherapy have been followed up for 6 months to 11 years and all were stable of diseases (SD). Lung lobectomies were performed on 29 cases of choriocarcinoma with lung metastasis. Among them, there were 17 cases whose pathological results were hemorrhage and necrotic tissue without trophoblastic cells (negative pathological results), while trophoblastic cells could still be detected in 12 cases of resected lung specimens (positive pathological results). Twenty-five cases of choriocarcinoma with normal serum beta-hCG but residual pulmonary nodules after chemotherapy were followed up, five cases had progress of disease (PD) and 20 were SD. There were no significant differences of age, stage and the last pregnancy between the positive and negative pathological results, SD and PD groups, respectively. However, the number of chemotherapeutic courses for decreasing beta-hCG from 10 IU/L to 2 IU/L and the total courses in the group of positive pathological results and PD group were significantly more than that of negative pathological results group and SD group (P = 0.01, P = 0.001)., Conclusions: For invasive mole, lung metastasis can be successfully treated by chemotherapy alone. Patients with residual pulmonary nodules but normal serum beta-hCG after chemotherapy can be followed up and spared lung lobectomy. For choriocarcinoma, slowly decreasing of beta-hCG from 10 IU/L to 2 IU/L is a high risk for chemoresistance, and it is an indication for thoracotomy. Progression of disease after multiple chemotherapy courses should be treated with lung lobectomy.

Primary choriocarcinoma (PCC) of the lung is extremely rare, with about 25 cases previously reported. We describe here a patient with PCC of the lung and review previously described cases to establish the clinical characteristics and most appropriate management of this disease. Survival for patients treated with both surgery and chemotherapy was longer than for patients treated with surgery alone, chemotherapy alone, or optional supportive care. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors revealed that treatment with both surgery and chemotherapy had independent prognostic significance. Our analysis including previous cases suggests that resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the most effective treatment.

A 25-year-old man who suffered from cough, sputum, and swelling of left scrotal contents was admitted to our hospital. We found testicular choriocarcinoma with multiple lung, liver, and brain metastases. The patient received 5 courses of VIP therapy (cisplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide) and 1 course of high-dose chemotherapy (carboplatin, etoposide, cyclophospamide) with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. One year later, the patient underwent surgery for resection of lung metastasis after 1 course of chemotherapy (cisplatin, etoposide). Pathological diagnosis showed a remnant of choriocarcinoma. Three years and three months after surgery, no recurrence of the choriocarcinoma has been found.

Background: While choriocarcinoma is a rapidly invasive, widely metastasizing malignancy, it responds well to chemotherapy, so it is important to obtain an early diagnosis. We report the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of a case of choriocarcinoma metastatic to the breast., Case: A 48-year-old female presented with a cough, hemoptysis and epistaxis. Chest computed tomography revealed multiple nodules in both lung fields. Also, a firm, slightly tender mass in the lower outer quadrant of the left breast was palpated. The breast mass was clinically suspected to be a metastatic lung cancer. FNAC of the breast showed a malignant tumor that had been misdiagnosed as a metastatic non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. Histologic examination of a nasal biopsy revealed metastatic choriocarcinoma., Conclusion: The cytologic features of choriocarcinoma are quite characteristic, with side-by-side, malignant, mononucleated cells and multinucleated giant cells corresponding to cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts, respectively. The disease is possible to diagnose by a careful examination of FNAC samples.

The primary location of non-metastatic germ cell tumours of the chest is the anterior mediastinal compartment. Germ cell tumour arising from lung parenchyma is one of the rarest conditions in human and only a few cases of choriocarcinomas and yolk sac tumour have been reported to date. Here we report a case of intrapulmonary mixed type germ cell tumour, containing embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma and yolk sac tumour elements. Diagnosis of the lesion was achieved by open thoracotomy and bulk of the tumour was resected by right upper lobectomy.

Choriocarcinoma is a rapidly invasive, widely metastatic human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-producing neoplasm, usually intrauterine and gestational. Primary gastric choriocarcinoma is very rare, and its pathogenesis is still uncertain. We report a case of primary gastric choriocarcinoma associated with adenocarcinoma in a 36-year-old woman. The patient presented with gastrointestinal bleeding and a gastric mass clinically suspicious of gastric adenocarcinoma. Histopathologic evaluation proved the tumor to be a choriocarcinoma, with a minor component of a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient was treated with a standard nongestational choriocarcinoma chemotherapy regimen. An impressive initial response was evidenced by clinical reduction of the tumor volume and drop of the serum beta-HCG levels after the first cycle. However, the tumor rapidly recurred in the abdomen and disseminated to the lungs, which were documented by new elevation of serum beta-HCG levels and computed tomographic scans despite continuing with 3 more cycles of chemotherapy. The patient died 6 months after diagnosis.

Background: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-producing large or giant cell carcinoma of the lung is not uncommon, but primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare entity. Even rarer are cases occurring in males; to date the authors have found only 12 reported cases in the English literature., Methods: The clinical record of a 61-year-old man who presented with hemoptysis is described. A review of the literature regarding patients with primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma also is reported., Results: Computed tomography scan of the chest demonstrated an expanding thickness of the bullous wall within areas of emphysematous change in the lower lobe of the right lung. Moreover, a new, round tumor near the thickness appeared and rapidly expanded evenly into the surrounding lung tissue. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed the previous tumor to be adenocarcinoma with a small foci of choriocarcinoma, and the new tumor to be a hemorrhage with choriocarcinoma. Because of the pleural dissemination, the patient was treated with chemotherapy. At last follow-up he was alive and well with a gradually increasing serum hCG-beta level in spite of chemotherapy., Conclusions: Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma occurring in men is an extremely rare entity with a fatal prognosis. Of the 12 cases reported to date in the English literature, 3 cases of choriocarcinoma with the coexistence of another type of pulmonary carcinoma were reported. To the authors' knowledge the clinical relation between these two types of carcinoma are unknown because all cases to date have been detected at the time of autopsy. Only in the current study case could the clinical course of the disease be followed and pathologic confirmation achieved, although the pathogenesis of the two types of carcinoma could not be determined., (Copyright 2001 American Cancer Society.)

Objective: To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment for malignant gestational trophoblastic tumor (MGTT) with pulmonary metastasis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis., Methods: To analyze ten cases of MGTT with pulmonary metastasis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis in our hospital from 1980 to 1997 retrospectively., Results: From the x-ray film, there are great resemblances between MGTT with pulmonary metastasis and pulmonary tuberculosis. Of 10 patients, 7 of them were examined out pulmonary tuberculosis during the chemotherapy of MGTT. Pulmonary tuberculosis appeared six months before chemotherapy in three cases. All of the patients were treated with multiagent chemotherapy. Seven patients achiceved a complete remission, 2 patients developed drug resistance and died of cerebral haemorrhage and cerebral herniation, 1 woman who had achieved a complete remission from MGTT for 14 months died of miliary tuberculosis., Conclusion: It is very important to make differential diagnosis of the MGTT with pulmonary metastasis complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Trying to avoid excessive anti-tumor treatment owing to mistake pulmonary tuberculosis for pulmonary metastasis, and avoiding missing an opportunity of anti-tuberculosis treatment because of missed diagnosis should be emphasized.

Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma is an exceedingly rare clinical entity in men. In this report, we present a man with an asymptomatic pulmonary mass, which was diagnosed as non-small cell lung cancer by the use of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy, who underwent left upper lobectomy. Final pathologic examination proved this tumor to be primary choriocarcinoma of the lung. We conclude that surgical resection of incidental primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma, an extremely fatal malignancy, may be an appropriate treatment of choice.

Two patients with resistant gestational choriocarcinoma were treated w with Taxol after extensive prior chemotherapy including EMACO and platinum-based salvage chemotherapy. Both patients showed significant responses to Taxol. One patient relapsed in the brain and liver after treatment and died. Taxol was combined with carboplatin in the other patient who achieved sustained clinical and hormonal remission after craniotomy and excision of resistant disease in the brain.

Primary choriocarcinoma of the lung is an extremely rare tumour, with about 20 cases reported in the literature. The case records of 3 female patients with nongestational, extragonadal choriocarcinoma apparently arising in the lung are presented to illustrate its clinical spectrum, the utility of serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin, and responsiveness to chemotherapy. Most plausible origins of these malignancies and differential diagnosis are briefly discussed.

We report on a patient with the diagnosis of an adult teratoma metastasizing as choriocarcinoma. The 49-year-old man died of dysfunction of the liver caused by massive metastatic involvement. This case demonstrates the malignant potential of adult teratoma and emphasizes the need for chemotherapy of the same kind as for other malignant germ cell tumours if undifferentiated metastases of the teratoma are present. The chemotherapeutic modalities and the options for surgical treatment of metastatic adult teratomas of the testis are discussed.

Simultaneous occurrence of choriocarcinoma in mother and child is rare. Such a case is described in which a massive intrahepatic tumor in the infant led to its treatment and that of the mother who showed evidence of the same tumor. Both are alive and well 1 year after treatment, the longest recorded infant survival.

Choriocarcinoma of the nonmolar placenta is presumptively a rare entity and is usually associated with widespread maternal metastases at the time of diagnosis. Nonmetastatic disease goes unrecognized and undiagnosed because placental carcinoma can be limited to a few villi, and grossly evident disease is often misinterpreted as a placental infarct. The optimal treatment for patients with choriocarcinoma of the placenta is not known but aggressive combination chemotherapy is suggested for patients with metastatic disease. Historically, the prognosis for both mother and infant has been poor.

A case is reported of a 38-year-old woman with metastatic choriocarcinoma which followed four recurrent consecutive hydatidiform moles occurring within the preceding 5-year period. She conceived while having pulmonary metastasis, had a coexistent normal pregnancy and delivered a normal infant at term. Surgical resection of the lung lesion together with chemotherapy accomplished a sustained remission, with no evidence of disease after 20 months' follow-up.

We report a case of spontaneous bilateral pneumothoraces due to metastatic choriocarcinoma. The patient was successfully treated with tube thoracostomy and chemotherapy. Pneumothorax as a complication of choriocarcinoma has not been reported previously.