Maternal and neonatal death from advanced choriocarcinoma due to a delay in diagnosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Metastatic choriocarcinoma rarely coexists with a normal pregnancy.

CASE

A 36-year-old multipara presented to the hospital at 23 weeks' gestation with progressive dyspnea and tachycardia. She was admitted and evaluated by the Psychiatry Department for presumed panic disorder and had perinatology, pulmonary, cardiology and infectious disease consultations. Over the course of 5 days she developed respiratory failure, delivered a nonviable infant and died from complications of metastatic pulmonary choriocarcinoma. Choriocarcinoma was not considered in the differential diagnosis of the respiratory failure until the day prior to the patient's death.

CONCLUSION

Choriocarcinoma, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pregnant women presenting with abnormally elevated serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels and respiratory failure.