Decreasing Incidence of Gestational Choriocarcinoma in Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, South- East Nigeria: A 7-Year Review

Abstract

Gestational choriocarcinoma (GCC) is a highly malignant but rare tumour originating in the trophoblastic tissue. It is associated with high maternal morbidity and mortality especially when there is a delay in diagnosis and treatment. This is the only female malignant condition that is curable with chemotherapy following early treatment. The objective of this study was to retrospectively determining the incidence of choriocarcinoma, its clinical presentations, risk factors, the interval between the antecedent case and time of diagnosis, treatment options and outcome in ESUT-TH. The folders of patients treated for GCC over the period of the study served as source of data. Results showed that the incidence of GCC was 0.1% or 1 in 1731 deliveries. It further shows that GCC accounted for 0.2% of gynaecological admission in ESUT-TH. Abnormal bleeding per vaginum and amenorrhoea were the commonest presenting symptoms discovered in this study, while other clinical presentations noted include; isolated vaginal nodule, ovarian mass and haemoptysis. Molar gestation and miscarriage were the risk factors discovered in this study, lungs were discovered to be the commonest site of metastasis. It is concluded that gestational choriocarcinoma is a rare malignancy in ESUT-TH, South-East Nigeria with minor case fatality. Keywords: Gestational, Choriocarcinoma, incidence.