Choriocarcinoma in a postmenopausal woman.
BACKGROUND
Choriocarcinoma typically occurs within 12 months of pregnancy but rarely may present many years after an antecedent pregnancy. This report describes choriocarcinoma in a postmenopausal woman.


METHODS
A 62-year-old woman presented with dyspnea, a history of postmenopausal vaginal spotting, and metastatic disease on chest X-ray. A transvaginal ultrasonogram revealed a thickened endometrium. Endometrial biopsy and an elevated beta-hCG confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic choriocarcinoma. Multiagent chemotherapy was initiated, and the patient developed fatal toxic epidermal necrolysis.


CONCLUSIONS
This case reminds practitioners that choriocarcinoma can occur in postmenopausal women, and although cure rates are high, deaths occasionally occur because of toxicity associated with treatment.
Chittenden
Bradley
B
From the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen; Department of Medical Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London; and Assisted Reproduction Unit, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Ahamed
Eliyaz
E
Maheshwari
Abha
A
D000367:Age Factors; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D013997:Time Factors; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy