Choriocarcinoma: A Review

Abstract

Here in his article, we will learn about choriocarcinoma, a highly malignant tumor arising from the chorionic epithelium. Among 3-5% of all patients with molar pregnancies develop choriocarcinoma. All the types of choriocarcinomas and their defining features are discussed below in a view to you to understand better the basic pathogenesis, histology, etiological factors involved.  The patient may present with persistent ill-health, irregular vaginal bleeding, continued amenorrhea, and when it is metastasized, it forms lesions which present in the lung as cough, breathlessness, hemoptysis whereas in the vagina as irregular and at times as brisk hemorrhage. It can also have lesions in the cerebral region presenting as headache, convulsions, paralysis. Signs include pallor of varying degrees, and in all, the patient looks ill. Various investigations necessary to identify this disease are chest x-ray, pelvic sonography, diagnostic uterine curettage, etc. also, excisional biopsy, the ratio of HCG levels, CT scan, ultrasonography, chest X-ray can also be done. We also talked about staging in the forthcoming article for gestational trophoblastic tumors. Management of the same has also been discussed below to treat the disease better and cure many patients. It can be preventive as well as curative.   Here we have talked about treatment modalities for low-risk and high-risk patients. Also, add treatment for those resistant to the drugs used for low-risk and high-risk patients. Finally, prophylactic chemotherapy and follow-ups are given.