Unusual presentation of choriocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Choriocarcinoma is an aggressive neoplasm arising in the body of the uterus. The disease normally spreads to lung and brain. CASE REPORT: A case of malignant trophoblastic disease with brain metastasis, raised intra cranial pressure and small bowel metastasis presenting with acute abdomen is reported.
CONCLUSIONS: Malignant transformation in a hydatidiform mole is rare event. Involvement of gastrointestinal tract is rarer even in presence of disseminated disease. Surgery is the treatment of choice for gastrointestinal complications.

Background

Trophoblastic diseases comprise a variety of biologically interrelated conditions which form a clinical spectrum consisting of four distinct clinical pathological entities like (1) molar pregnancy (2) invasive mole (3) placental site trophoblastic tumours and (4) choriocarcinoma [1].

Incidence of hydatidiform mole ranges from 1 in 500 in India to 1 in 3000 in USA. Like wise malignant potential of the disease is also higher in Southeast Asia reaching as high as 10–15% compared to 2–4% in west. Some of the hydatidiform moles erode the wall of uterus, burrow into myometrium and may even burst though the uterus into peritoneum and are called invasive mole. Even though locally aggressive, invasive mole does not metastasise. On the other hand choriocarcinoma is rare but one of the most malignant neoplasms arising in the body of uterus. choriocarcinoma metastasises readily. It is not uncommon to find secondary nodules in the cervix or vagina. The lungs, brain and liver are the distant organs more often involved. Lymph nodes are rarely the site of metastasis [2]. We report here a case of hydatidiform mole metastasising to brain and later presenting with intestinal metastasis and perforation.

Case Report

A twenty-four-year old housewife underwent dilatation and curettage for vaginal bleeding in 1994. Pathological examination of curettage specimen showed hydatidiform mole. She later conceived and had two normal deliveries. She remained asymptomatic for eight years. In January 2002 she was brought to medical causality with features suggestive of raised intra cranial pressure. A computerised tomographic scan of the brain was taken which revealed brain metastasis (figure 1) and the patient was referred to our centre. After admission she was treated with six cycles of chemotherapy consisting of etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D, cyclophosphamide and Vincristine (EMA-CO regime). Ten days after completion of chemotherapy she developed abdomen pain and vomiting.

Figure 1

Computerized tomographic scan of the brain showing metastatic lesion.

On examination she was febrile, with mild abdominal distension and rebound tenderness was present. A plain X-ray abdomen in left lateral decubitus posture showed free gas above the liver (figure 2). X-ray chest was taken which showed metastatic lesions in the lung. With diagnosis of perforative peritonitis the patient was taken up for emergency laparotomy.

Figure 2

Left Lateral decubetus x-ray of the abdomen showing free gas above the liver.

At laparotomy the stomach and duodenum were found to be normal. A 1 × 1 cm perforation was found in the jejunum, 10 cm distal to the dudonojejunal junction. Another area of impending perforation was found 5 cm distal to the site of perforation. Multiple metastatic nodules were noted on the serosal surface of the small intestine, colon, and bowel mesentery. A 3 × 4 cm metastatic nodule was present on the superior surface of right lobe of liver. Resection of the perforated segment of jejunum and end to end anastamosis was carried out.

On gross examination the resected small intestine measured 14 cm in length. A small perforation measuring 1 × 0.8 cm was seen on the serosa 6 cm from one of the resected ends. Adjacent to the perforation the serosa showed two nodules, each measuring 1 × 1 cm. On opening the intestine, multiple small mucosal nodules were noted. The cut surface of the serosal nodules were haemorrhagic and grey white. Similar nodules were seen involving the full thickness of the intestinal wall.

Microscopic examination showed multiple nodules of a neoplasm involving the mucosa, submucosa, muscle and serosa of the small intestine (fig 3,4,5). Cytotrophoblasts having eosinophilic cytoplasm and round, vesicular nuclei with nucleoli were seen admixed with syncytiotrophoblasts, in a haemorrhagic background (fig 6). The mesenteric fat showed tumour infiltration with a vascular tumour emboli. These findings were consistent with metastatic choriocarcinoma.

Figure 3

Sheets of neoplastic cells in a haemorrhagic background infiltrating the wall of the intestine (H&E × 50).

Figure 4

Neoplastic cells in a haemorrhagic background infiltrating the intestine (H&E × 50).

Figure 5

Higher magnification showing two population of cells in a haemorrhagic background (H&E × 100).

Figure 6

Cytotrophoblasts having eosinophilic cytoplasm, and vesicular nuclei admired with syncytiotrophoblasts having single and multiple hyperchewmatic nuclei (H&E × 400)

Postoperative period was uneventful. Patient was discharged on tenth day. As she was not responding to EMA-CO, she was switched over to BEP regimen (Bleomycin, Etopside, and Predinisolon). She received eight cycles of BEP. Her β HCG fell to 12000 IU but then started to rise again to reach 20,000 IU, patient discontinued the chemotherapy at this stage and was lost to follow-up.

Discussion

Gestational trophoblastic disease most commonly follows molar pregnancy and may also occur following normal or ectopic pregnancies and spontaneous or therapeutic abortions. Its incidence varies with figures as high as 1 in 120 pregnancies in some areas of Asia and South America, compared to 1 in 1200 in United States. Metastatic disease occurs in 4% patients after local management of Hydatidiform mole. The incidence of choriocarcinoma after complete hydatiditorm mole is about 1000 times greater than after a normal pregnancy [2]. It may occur possibly ab initio [3]. Choriocarcinoma is a rare tumour. In western countries, the incidence is 1 in 45,000 pregnancies [4]. Higher incidence is reported from, Africa, Asia and South America [4]. Majority of cases occur in women aged less than 35 years of age [4].

Choriocarcinoma is suspected when there is persistent or irregular uterine haemorrhage, following abortion or hydatidiform mole. Rapid growth and haemorrhage make the tumour a medical emergency. Metastasis may occur in lung, pelvis and vagina. Rare sites include gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and kidney. The central nervous system is seldom involved in the absence of pulmonary metastasis [1]. Metastatic disease occurs in 4% of patients after local management of hydatidiform mole and very rarely after tem pregnancies or abortions [1]. Some times they may be combined with malignant germ cells components, occasionally it may be difficult to differentiate a primary tumour from a metastasis. For females in non reproductive age group, the tumours may arise from ovarian germ cells which is histologically similar to gestational uterine choriocarcinoma [4].

Chemotherapy is highly effective for all forms of gestational trophoblastic disease. For stage I disease hysterectomy and single agent chemotherapy is effective. For advanced diseases salvage regimes are available for management.

Malignant transformation in a hydatidiform mole is rare event. There are reports describing metastasis to large intestine from choriocarcinoma presenting as pesudoobstruction [5] and metastasis to stomach [6]. Metastasis to gastrointestinal tract and presention as perforation of small intestine is very rare. The case is being reported for its rarity.