Metastatic choriocarcinoma in the small bowel: a case report

ABSTRACT

Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant form of gestational trophoblastic disease. It is characterized by metastatic potential, rapid growth and deeply invasion into blood vessel and then widespread dissemination metastasis. However, the most common sites of metastatic choriocarcinoma are lung, vagina, liver, and brain. But, metastatic choriocarcinomas rarely is extended to gastrointestinal system. It is important to keep in mind that despite extensive metastasis, choriocarcinoma is very curable disease. Due to high responsibility of this disease, early diagnosis of choriocarcinoma and treatment with chemotherapy can prevent mortality and morbidity of these patients. In this case report, we present a rare case of metastatic choriocarcinoma in the small bowel after normal term pregnancy. A 34-years-old woman G4, P4, L4 presented with abnormal postpartum vaginal bleeding [45 days] and unresponsive to usual medical and surgical therapy [oxytocine, methergine, antibiotic, and double curettage]. The patient was admitted in the Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in April 2013. She suffered from rectal hemorrhage and severe weakness. Because of unsuitable condition and shock, laparotomy was performed and small bowel involvement was observed. Segmental resection of small bowel detected metastatic choriocarcinoma of the lesion. We couldn't rescue our patient due to unresponsive to combination chemotherapy [actino-mycine, methotrexate, cyclophosfamide, vincrystine, etoposide]. In abnormal postpartum hemorrhage, we should consider the possibility of choriocarcinoma. Although, it is important to note rare manifestations of metastatic choriocarcinoma of small bowel in massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage