Roentgenologic manifestations of pulmonary metastases in choriocarcinoma and invasive mole

From 1949 to 1975, a total of 3,915 chest films were taken for 429 cases of choriocarcinoma and 441 cases of invasive mole. The incidences of pulmonary metastases were 85.1% and 65.0%, respectively. The various forms of pulmonary metastases were studied and correlated with clinical symptoms and pathologic changes. In order to follow up the progression or regression of the various forms, serial chest films were taken at intervals of 10 to 14 days in 27 cases. In eight cases postmortem pulmonary arteriograms were obtained on the autopsied lung specimens for the study of vascular changes of metastatic lesions. Pathologic examinations and pulmonary arteriography were also done on the surgically resected lung specimens. As a result of this study, a relative comprehensive knowledge about the nature and development of the various forms of metastatic shadows has been deduced. It is rational to say that the various forms seen on the chest films represent only the various evolutionary changes of the same lesion.