Open AccessChoriocarcinoma Presenting with Cerebral Metastases After Full‐Term Pregnancy
Author(s) -
Pihl Karin,
Malmstrom Henric,
Simonsen Ernst
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349009013308
Subject(s) - medicine , choriocarcinoma , term (time) , pregnancy , obstetrics , term pregnancy , gynecology , gestation , biology , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics
Choriocarcinoma is a rare malignancy in Scandinavia. We present a case of a young primigravida who experienced an uneventful pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby. Six days after delivery she underwent neurosurgery for intracranial hemorrhage. Pathological examination of the evacuated hematoma revealed metastatic choriocarcinoma. Further work‐up exposed additional metastases in the lungs and liver. The initial serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin (fi‐HCG) was 350,000 IU/I. Chemotherapy was given both intravenously and intrathecally. At 10 weeks, p‐HCG had returned to normal. Treatment was continued for another 10 weeks. Two years after cessation of therapy the patient is still in complete remission. In the discussion we review a scoring system to be used in selecting the mode of treatment, and briefly mention diagnosis and prognosis.