Intracavitary cardiac metastasis and pulmonary tumor emboli of choriocarcinoma: the first case diagnosed and treated without surgical intervention.

BACKGROUND

Choriocarcinoma mostly metastasizes to lung parenchyma. Its pulmonary tumor embolism and cardiac metastasis are very rarely encountered, of which antemortem diagnosis is even more rare.

CASE

To our knowledge, we present the first case of intracavitary cardiac metastasis and pulmonary tumor emboli of choriocarcinoma diagnosed and treated without any surgical intervention. Multi-agent chemotherapy led to almost complete regression of cardiac and pulmonary lesions and normalization of beta-hCG levels.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac metastasis of choriocarcinoma must be kept in mind for cases of cardiac mass in reproductive age women, especially when history and clinical presentation are suggestive for gestational trophoblastic disease. As the tumor is highly sensitive, chemotherapy together with biochemical and radiological monitoring constitutes an effective treatment modality if cardiopulmonary functions are not deteriorating.