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Choriocarcinoma of the colon: A rare case

Jannah A. Tapodoc, MD and Lynnette R. Lu-Lasala, MD, FPOGS, FPSSTD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Philippines Medical Center

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is a group of tumors which includes invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor, all of which develop after a recognized pregnancy. Choriocarcinoma is a highly invasive and metastatic neoplasm which arises in women of reproductive age. Local spread is reported at 15% while distant metastasis at 4%. Of the 4% of cases having distant metastasis, 60% goes to the lungs, 30% to the vagina, and 10% to other sites. Less than 5% of patients with metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia have involvement of the gastrointestinal tract. This is the case of a 47-year-old multigravid patient who came in with an enlarging abdomen 8 years after she had a hydatidiform mole. Work-ups were done which revealed metastases to the colon, liver and lungs. The plan of management was to give multiple agent chemotherapy.

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