A Case of Primary Choriocarcinoma of the Lung

Abstract

A primary choriocarcinoma of the lung is extremely rare, and difficult to distinguish from a metastatic choriocarcinoma considering that the lung is also one of the most frequent site s of metastasis. We report a 28-year-old woman patient who was initially misdiagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy and was operated on under the impression of an unidentified malignancy of the lung, which was finally proven to be a chorio carcinoma of the lung. A pelvic examination by a gynecologist, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and whole body fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography was performed in order to rule out a metastatic choriocarcinoma of the lung. After a curative operation, her serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) level, which was highly elevated in the initial evaluation, had decreased dramatically to the normal range. She is currently being followed up regularly without any evidence of recurrence or elevation of her β-HCG level. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2006; 61: 578-584)