Choriocarcinoma arising in a serous carcinoma of ovary: an example of histopathology driving treatment.
BACKGROUND
Choriocarcinoma within an ovarian carcinoma is exceptionally rare. Nevertheless, recognition of this mixed tumour is important for administration of appropriate chemotherapy.


METHODS
A 65-year-old woman underwent resection of an ovarian mass after presenting with a pelvic mass and breast tenderness. On pathologic examination the mass showed a choriocarcinoma in association with a serous carcinoma. This pathologic diagnosis led to a specific chemotherapy regimen with cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin, suitable for both types of malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Both gynaecologists and pathologists should be aware that the histopathologic classification of ovarian epithelial carcinoma and its variants, such as this one, may have an increasing role in the management of this disease.
Hafezi-Bakhtiari
Sara
S
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Morava-Protzner
Izabella
I
Burnell
Margot J
MJ
Reardon
Edward
E
Colgan
Terence J
TJ
D000368:Aged; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*