Treatment of gestational choriocarcinoma and massive ascites by hypothermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy guided by ultrasound followed by cytoreductive surgery

ABSTRACT

A 33-year-old woman with very poor health status was admitted to our hospital because she had experienced increasing abdominal distention for three months, CT examination showed a right ovarian tumor together with massive abdominal and pelvic fluid. The patient was first treated by continuous circulatory hypothermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy [HIPC] guided by B-mode ultrasound, followed by cytoreductive surgery [CRS] after her ascites was controlled and her health condition improved. She was diagnosed with gestational choriocarcinoma [GC] based on the pathological examination of the hysterectomy specimen. She is still alive with very good health today. We think it may be a good choice for a patient in very poor health with GC accompanied by massive ascites to perform HIPC guided by B-mode ultrasound firstly, followed by CRS when the ascites has relieved and the patient's health has improved