Intracavitary cardiac metastasis and pulmonary tumor emboli of choriocarcinoma: the first case diagnosed and treated without surgical intervention.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Bozaci
Elif Aylin
EA
Ankara University, Medical Faculty Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gezegen S. No: 7/4, Büyükesat, Ankara, Turkey. eclamptic2000@yahoo.com
Taşkin
Salih
S
Gürkan
Ozlem
O
Atasoy
Cetin
C
Ersoy
Zinet Gül
ZG
Erekul
Selim
S
Numanoğlu
Numan
N
Ortaç
Firat
F
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged