Choriocarcinoma in a term placenta with pulmonary metastasis

This is a case report of choriocarcinoma in the placenta of a patient who had a term delivery at the 38th week of pregnancy. The pregnant woman had hemoptysis at the 26th week of pregnancy, and a chest X-ray revealed a tumor in the left lung. She had suffered from a hydatidiform mole in a previous pregnancy in 1989. The patient's serum level of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) had been below the normal level before the present pregnancy. Choriocarcinoma was histologically found at 3 sites in the placenta. Her urine hCG levels decreased rapidly after delivery. A partial lobectomy was performed after 2 courses of chemotherapy, and no choriocarcinoma was recognized histologically, because the lesions were hemorrhagic and necrotic. At present, the mother is free of disease, and the baby is growing normally. The placenta should be examined in a detail in post-molar pregnancy.