Choriocarcinoma brain metastasis in a patient with viable intrauterine pregnancy

Abstract

✓ The authors report the case of a woman who presented during her 30th week of pregnancy with a large brain metastasis from a previously undetected metastatic choriocarcinoma. The metastasis caused significant neurological deficit due to mass effect, necessitating rapid intervention. Medical management included a regimen of high-dose corticosteroid medications for 36 hours, followed by cesarean delivery of the fetus and craniotomy to remove the metastatic tumor; chemotherapy and radiation therapy were begun within 1 week postsurgery. Both the baby and mother survived, and as of the 1-year follow-up examination, there was no evidence of disease in the mother. This is only the second report of a metastatic choriocarcinoma associated with a simultaneous viable intrauterine pregnancy, and the only case in which surgical removal of a brain metastasis was required. Coordinated multidisciplinary treatment of mother and fetus by members of the neurosurgery, medical oncology, neonatology, and obstetrics services facilitated a good outcome in this case.