Primary Lung Choriocarcinoma Masquerading as a Metastatic Gestational Neoplasm

Metastatic Lung Choriocarcinoma Resected Nine Years after Hydatidiform Mole

“…In women, however, it can be difficult to distinguish choriocarcinoma arising primarily from the lung with that metastasizing from the gonadal organs (2,3). An earlier report (3) described a 27-year-old woman who had no prior positive pregnancy test and was diagnosed with primary lung choriocarcinoma.…”

Primary choriocarcinoma and human chorionic gonadotrophin‐producing giant cell carcinoma of the lung: are they independent entities?

“…Because of the rarity and the clinicopathological similarity of PCC and hCG-producing GCC, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] the criteria for distinguishing them are unclear. Thus, differential diagnosis has been very difficult.…”

“…The disease progression was rapid, and no therapy achieved the predicted efficacy. [4][5][6][7][8][9]25 Although there is no statistically significant difference in survival duration, these patients had relatively good responses to chemotherapy or operation. 1,23 The clinical courses of our patients were consistent with this.…”

“…Alternatively, the PCCs or hCG-producing GCCs that developed in young women or women who had a history of gestational trophoblastic diseases, [4][5][6][7][8][9]25 seem to be different from the other PCCs or hCG-producing GCCs. Importantly, this type of PCC tends to show a relatively good response to therapy (Table 3).…”

“…In particular, small-cell carcinoma of the lung often induces paraneoplastic syndromes by producing hormonal factors. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] A diagnosis of PCC should be made carefully. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is one of the most common hormones produced by pulmonary carcinomas, 1-3 but clinical findings and problems associated with the hormone are not so frequent.…”