Male primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma with diffuse metastases: A case report

Choriocarcinoma is a rare and highly invasive gestational trophoblastic tumor that secretes high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). As one of the uncommon non-gestational choriocarcinoma, primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma is an exceeding rare, and aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis.

A 26-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with cough, shortness of breath, and occasional hemoptysis.

Imaging examinations revealed a large mediastinal mass, diffuse nodular opacities with blurred edges in both lungs, and multiple brain lesions. Laboratory tests showed an astonishing increase of serum β-hCG. A diagnosis of primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma with advanced lung and brain metastases was finally made after 3 biopsies and immunohistochemical analyses. Surgery and radiotherapy were not applicable at the time of diagnosis, and both targeted therapy and immunotherapy were unavailable. During the first 4 cycles of trophoblastic tumor-based chemotherapy, the patient improved clinically with fewer symptoms, decreased β-hCG and reduced lesions. However, drug resistance quickly emerged, forcing an alternative chemotherapy regimen that also failed.

The patient finally endured symptoms including headache, dizziness and vomiting, and subsequently succumbed after an overall survival time of six and half months.

Male primary choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare type of malignancy. Greater awareness, earlier diagnosis and novel treatments are urgently needed to benefit patients.