Improvement in survival from choriocarcinoma in Harare

Thirty-nine patients with choriocarcinoma and one with post molar trophoblastic tumour are presented. It was often found that there had been a long interval between the preceding pregnancy and the time of diagnosis or presentation. As a result, there was a high incidence of non-gynaecological presenting symptoms and 95 pc of our patients belonged to the high risk or poor prognosis group. The highest rate of cerebral metastases from choriocarcinoma so far reported in the world literature is presented here. At the beginning of 1987, a modified EMA regimen as introduced and has produced a great improvement in survival. The mortality from choriocarcinoma in Harare from 1985 to 1986 was 81 pc. In 1987 to 1988, this has fallen to 31 pc. The follow-up for the patients on the modified EMA regimen varies from four to twenty-four months.