Abstract
Choriocarcinoma can be gestational and nongestational. Gestational choriocarcinoma
is rare with an incidence of 9.2 in 40,000 pregnancies in Asian population. They can
occur following molar, partial molar pregnancy, abortion, or delivery. It is detected
by elevated levels of serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and by imaging
modality. The need for histopathological diagnosis for choriocarcinoma is debatable.
Six cases of choriocarcinoma are described with variable presentations and outcomes.
Out of six cases, three were following vaginal delivery, two were after abortion,
and one case was perimenopausal with antecedent pregnancy 10 years ago, unclear whether
it was the cause for choriocarcinoma. Brain and lung metastasis were seen in three
cases each; one case, which had metastasis to all organs, had worse prognosis and
succumbed to the disease. All belonged to high-risk group according to International
Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics score (8–13). The prognosis is usually very
good, provided that prompt diagnosis and treatment are initiated early. Long-term
follow-up with beta-hCG levels needs to be done to detect recurrence but it did not
act like a prognostic indicator in our case series.
Keywords
choriocarcinoma - gestational trophoblastic neoplasia - metastasis
