Nongestational choriocarcinoma in the postpartum period: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the tissue of origin (gestational versus nongestational) of an extensive metastatic choriocarcinoma in an 18-year-old woman to determine prognosis and treatment.


METHODS
DNA microsatellite polymorphisms after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the tumor tissue and blood from the patient, husband, and daughter were used to determine the tissue of origin.


RESULTS
Molecular analyses revealed that the tumor shared the genetic features of only the patient. She responded well to multiagent chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Molecular analysis is a useful tool to determine whether a choriocarcinoma occurring in a female patient of child-bearing age is gestational or nongestational when clinical findings are not clearly indicative of the primary.
Suryanarayan
K
K
Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5119, USA.
O'Hanlan
K A
KA
Surti
U
U
Ishwad
C S
CS
Nowels
K
K
Letourneau
D
D
Marina
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011379:Prognosis; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm