FIGO stage IV gestational choriocarcinoma misdiagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report

Choriocarcinoma is a rare, highly malignant neoplasm, which may occur during or following any type of pregnancy. This tumor often demonstrates rapid hematogenous spread to multiple organs, and is associated with high human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels and a good response to chemotherapy. In the present study, the case of a 29-year-old female with distant metastatic choriocarcinoma [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IV; World Health Organization score, 15], who was misdiagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis at a local hospital is presented. The major failure in the diagnosis of this case was that the patient's serum β-HCG levels were ignored initially. However, the patient received combined treatment with systematic multi-agent chemotherapy, whole-brain radiation therapy and gross total resection of the brain lesion at West China Second Hospital, and achieved complete remission. In conclusion, the accurate and prompt diagnosis of choriocarcinoma is crucial for a good outcome. Furthermore, in young female patients exhibiting symptoms such as pulmonary bleeding or neurological disturbances following a hydatidiform mole or a normal pregnancy, even in the absence of abnormal uterine bleeding, serum β-HCG levels must be analyzed and a diagnosis of choriocarcinoma must be considered.