[Diagnosis and treatment of hemothorax in malignant trophoblastic tumors]

From 1949 to 1988, 32 cases of hemothorax were seen in our hospital. The incidence rate of hemothorax among the cases of choriocarcinoma and invasive mole in the whole series were 2.6% and 1.4% respectively. The most frequent symptoms were chest pain, cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. Before 1965, when 6-MP was the only agent used, 7 of the 16 patients with hemothorax died directly due to severe intrathoracic hemorrhage, from 1966 to 1988, when intravenous infusion of 5-FU and intrathoracic injection of 5-FU were used, only 4 of the 16 cases died, there was no death directly related to hemothorax. About 75% were followed up for more than 10 years, the longest duration of follow up being more than 28 years in 6 cases. Repeated examinations with serum hCG determination and chest film revealed no evidence of recurrence, nor pleural adhesion and thickening or pulmonocardiac diseases.