title: Unusual clinical and radiological presentation of metastatic choriocarcinoma to the brain and long-term remission following emergency craniotomy and adjuvant EMA-CO chemotherapy.
abstract: Choriocarcinoma is the most malignant tumor of gestational trophoblast origin. Metastasis to brain is considered a poor prognostic indicator. Recent advances in adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy have led to an excellent outcome of these patients. Craniotomy is indicated in selected cases with cerebral metastases. The authors report an interesting case of an aggressive choriocarcinoma with multiple metastases to the brain and viscera. The patient had radiological evidence of new lesions occurring almost every week while on the initial treatment and yet had a complete long-term remission with EMA-CO therapy. The interesting presentation, radiology and adjuvant therapies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, EPIP Area, Whitefield, Bangalore, India. ravi.dadlani@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dadlani
authors.forename: Sunil V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghosal
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Prasanna
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hegde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002508:Cephalometry; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011859:Radiography; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents