Metastatic cerebral choriocarcinoma with primary neurological presentation

Abstract

Metastatic choriocarcinoma can present in bizarre fashions. Two cases with primary neurological presentations are reviewed. Cerebral metastases in choriocarcinoma generally denote a poor prognosis. However, in solitary metastases in the brain, craniotomy and excision followed by chemotherapy may be curative as illustrated by the following two cases. The first patient was diagnosed to have brain metastases 1 1/2 years after an evacuation of her molar pregnancy while the other patient developed cerebral choriocarcinoma 5 months following a spontaneous first trimester abortion. Both presented with neurological symptoms. Both patients are alive and well now, 9 and 5 years respectively after craniotomy and chemotherapy. A brief review of current considerations in the management of cerebral metastases in gestational trophoblastic disease is presented.