Primary pure non-gestational choriocarcinoma of ovary: a rare case report

Abstract

Germ cell malignancies represent 15% of ovarian cancers. Choriocarcinoma is a malignant tumour with trophoblastic differentiation. It may be gestational or non-gestational and may be a primary tumour or metastatic from other organs. Pure non-gestational choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare neoplasm, with reports of only a few cases. This study reports a rare case of non-gestational pure choriocarcinoma in a postmenarcheal young female and describes details of the tumour, including the clinicopathological findings. A young female presented with sudden onset anxiety, abdominal distention, severe abdominal pain, and severe pallor. Clinically, she was diagnosed as a case of ruptured ectopic pregnancy, and was taken up for emergency laparotomy. A right ovarian mass of 5X7 cm was seen, which was ruptured and was bleeding profusely. Right salpingo-oophorectomy was done, and it was diagnosed histopathologically as primary pure non-gestational choriocarcinoma of ovary. This case report describes the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of this rare entity, as well as the various methods to differentiate between cases of non-gestational and gestational choriocarcinoma of the ovary. This is important as non-gestational choriocarcinoma has a poorer prognosis in comparison with gestational. Also, the treatment regimen for the two differs.