Testicular Choriocarcinoma Metastatic to the Skin

Abstract

Pure testicular choriocarcinoma with metastasis to the skin is a very rarely seen phenomenon. Choriocarcinoma has a distinct propensity for early hematogenous spread to distant sites. We present the case of a 42-year-old white male with testicular choriocarcinoma with skin metastasis.

Salvage chemotherapy with high-dose carboplatin plus etoposide and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant in male pure choriocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 13 cases

“…Usually sites of metastases are lungs, liver, brain, but also unusual sites like cutaneous. 18 Choriocarcinoma, as a component of a mixed tumor in the histology of the primary tumor, does not predict an adverse outcome. 19 However, patients with advanced pure choriocarcinoma or choriocarcinoma syndrome have a worse prognosis than other advanced/poor prognosis nonseminomatous GCTs, because of the very high levels of hCG and propensity for pulmonary and nonpulmonary visceral metastases.…”

Head and neck cutaneous metastasis of testicular choriocarcinoma

“…No follow-up was provided for the patient treated non-surgically. Two of three patients treated with metastasectomy failed treatment eventually succumbing to disease progression within the first 14 months after treatment 4–7…”

Testicular choriocarcinoma metastatic to skin and multiple organs. Two case reports and review of literature

“…Choriocarcinoma primarily arises from fetal (placental) trophoblasts in the setting of a molar pregnancy 5 . Nongestational choriocarcinoma from testis is much rarer 6 . The histogenesis remains obscure, although an origin from misplaced germ cells is strongly supported by the anatomic demonstration of widespread pathways of migration of germ cells during embryogenesis to locations such as the retroperitoneum, mediastinum and neck 7 .…”

“…5 Nongestational choriocarcinoma from testis is much rarer. 6 The histogenesis remains obscure, although an origin from misplaced germ cells is strongly supported by the anatomic demonstration of widespread pathways of migration of germ cells during embryogenesis to locations such as the retroperitoneum, mediastinum and neck. 7 In these two cases, further radiographic examinations disclosed no involvement of the retroperitoneum or mediastinum.…”