title: Unusual presentation of a metastatic choriocarcinoma following a full term pregnancy: a case report.
abstract: Choriocarcinoma most commonly follows a molar pregnancy, but it may develop after any gestational event. If choriocarcinoma follows a term pregnancy, it is associated with an unfavorable outcome and a 60% survival rate. A 33 year female who had delivered a normal girl 4 months before, presented with a nodule on the scalp behind the right ear. The pathologic diagnosis was compatible with metastatic choriocarcinoma. This tumor did not respond to chemotherapy, and she died a year later of multiple liver and pulmonary metastases. The development of a choriocarcinoma following a full term pregnancy is associated with a poor prognosis. We suggest that patients who do not achieve a clinical or serological remission after EMA-CO treatment be considered for high dose chemotherapy such as transplant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology Oncology, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Balat
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Verschraegen
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kudelka
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003609:Dactinomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate