Pregnancy and delivery after successful treatment of epidural metastatic choriocarcinoma

Diagnosis and management of a case of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with lumbosacral metastases

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) with spinal metastasis is rare with few documented cases worldwide. Few studies have explored chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of such cases. However, because of its rarity, there is still no standardized treatment regimen. A 34-year-old Gravida 1 Para 0 (0010) was diagnosed with GTN with metastasis to the lumbosacral spine, resulting in conus medullaris syndrome with lumbar radiculopathy. She presented with a 14-month history of amenorrhea, left lower extremity pain, and urinary and bowel retention. On examination, there was a 10.0 × 7.0 cm lumbosacral mass and atrophy of the left lower extremity. Transvaginal ultrasound showed a cul de sac mass, and diluted β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) titer was markedly elevated at more than 1000 000 mIU/mL. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbosacral spine showed an ill-defined sacral mass measuring 13.3 × 11.5 × 6.3 cm with spinal canal, bone, muscle, and nerve root involvement. She was treated with 10 cycles of EMACO and palliative radiotherapy with 10 sessions of 30 Gy of external beam radiation therapy directed toward the lumbosacral mass. Repeat MRI showed a decrease in size of the mass to 6.6 × 8.2 × 4.1 cm with concurrent decrease in β-hCG to 1.30 mIU/ml, and resolution of leg pain and urinary and bowel symptoms. She was declared to be in remission 3 months after the last cycle of EMACO.

Metastatic choriocarcinoma to the lumbar spine: Case report and review of literature

Background:

There are few cases of choriocarcinoma metastases to the spine that have been reported. Most occurrences are in women with the gestational form of the tumor, and these now exhibit a very high remission rate with chemotherapeutic treatment, typically circumventing the need for spinal surgery.

Case Description:

In an effort to better understand treatment options for those rare instances when choriocarcinoma does find its way into the spine, we have synthesized a comprehensive literature review on the clinical cases of choriocarcinoma spinal metastases. We also describe our unique experience and decision-making involving the first reported case of surgical treatment of non-gestational choriocarcinoma spinal metastases in a male patient.

Conclusion:

Spinal surgery has a limited role in metastatic choriocarcinoma, but there is the potential for improving neurologic decline even in the rare and aggressive male variant of this disease.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis of choriocarcinoma

The authors describe a case of choriocarcinoma that metastasized to the cerebral cortex, vertebral body, and intramedullary spinal cord. A 21-year-old woman presented with sudden headache, vomiting and a visual field defect. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance examinations revealed an intracranial hemorrhage in the left temporo-parietal lobe and two enhancing nodules in the left temporal and right frontal lobe. After several days, the size of the hemorrhage increased, and a new hemorrhage was identified in the right frontal lobe. The hematoma and enhancing mass in the left temporo-parietal lobe were surgically removed. Choriocarcinoma was diagnosed after histological examination. At 6 days after the operation, her consciousness had worsened and she was in a state of stupor. The size of the hematoma in the right frontal lobe was enlarged. We performed an emergency operation to remove the hematoma and enhancing mass. Her mental status recovered slowly. Two months thereafter, she complained of paraplegia with sensory loss below the nipples. Whole spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-enhancing mass in the thoracic intramedullary spinal cord and L2 vertebral body. Despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the patient died 13 months after the diagnosis.

Lumbar metastasis of choriocarcinoma

STUDY DESIGN

A case of lumbar metastasis of a choriocarcinoma is presented.

OBJECTIVE

To present and review a rare case of metastatic choriocarcinoma in the lumbar spine.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Choriocarcinoma is a highly anaplastic malignancy derived from trophoblastic cells characterized by the secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and early hematogenous metastasis. However, metastatic choriocarcinoma in the spine is extremely rare. Although 2 cases of metastasis in lumbar and/or sacral vertebra have been reported, the efficacy of surgical treatment for the spinal metastasis of choriocarcinoma is not yet known.

METHODS

The clinical course, radiologic features, pathology, and outcome of the treatment of metastatic choriocarcinoma of the lumbar spine is reported.

RESULTS

A 38-year-old female patient with abnormal uterine bleeding 6 weeks after a normal-term delivery showed high serum levels of hCG. A whole body image analysis revealed a lesion in the L2 vertebra. After computed tomography-guided needle biopsy, a clinical and pathologic diagnosis of lumbar metastasis of choriocarcinoma was made. Surgical resection of the localized L2 vertebra lesion was performed by total en bloc spondylectomy after a poor response to initial chemotherapy with methotrexate. Postsurgically, the serum level of hCG explosively increased and local recurrences around the original L2 vertebra and epidural metastasis abruptly developed. Lung metastases also occurred concurrently and progressed and the patient eventually died to the disease.

CONCLUSION

We have reported a rare case of lumbar metastasis of choriocarcinoma after a normal-term pregnancy. This is the first report of lumbar metastasis of choriocarcinoma treated by spinal surgery. Because surgical resection of a lumbar metastasis of choriocarcinoma involves a substantial risk of profuse hemorrhage, local recurrence and the spread of metastasis, multiagent chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy should be preformed before surgical resection.

Metastatic choriocarcinoma during normal pregnancy presenting as thyroid tumor

A report of widely metastatic choriocarcinoma coexisting with a normal intrauterine pregnancy is presented. In this unusual case, a thyroid tumor was the presenting symptom.