title: Bullae-Forming Pulmonary Metastasis from Choriocarcinoma Presenting as Pneumothorax.
abstract: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a condition of uncertain etiology, choriocarcioma, or placental-site hydatidiform moles, invasive moles, choriocarcinoma, and placental-site trophoblastic tumors. It arises from the abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue and spreads beyond the uterus hematogenously. The early diagnosis of GTD is important to ensure timely and successful management and the preservation of fertility. We report the unusual case of a metastatic choriocarcinoma that formed bullae on the lung surface and presented as recurrent pneumothorax in a 38-year-old woman with elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. She underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection of the involved lung and four subsequent cycles of consolidation chemotherapy. No other evidence of metastatic disease or recurrent pneumothorax was noted during 22 months of follow-up. GTD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous pneumothorax in reproductive-age women with an antecedent pregnancy and abnormal beta-hCG levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Kwanyong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Hyeon Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Kyung Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Kook Bin
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Jae Kil
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Hyung Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Young Pil
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Chemotherapy; Choriocarcinoma; Lung metastasis; Pneumothorax