Choriocarcinoma brain metastasis in a patient in the third trimester: a case report

BACKGROUND: Metastatic choriocarcinoma in the third trimester of pregnancy is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old Chinese woman (gravida 3, para 0) who was 28 weeks pregnant was admitted for sudden convulsion, aconuresis, and unconsciousness. The decision was made to perform an emergency cesarean delivery and craniotomy, hematoma clearance, and decompression. Pathological examination confirmed choriocarcinoma with brain metastasis. The patient underwent chemotherapy with the etoposide, cisplatin (EP) and etoposide, methotrexate and dactinomycin alternating with cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMACO) regimens. A satisfactory result was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: When encountering intracranial mass or bilateral pulmonary nodules in a pregnant woman, especially one in the third trimester, metastatic choriocarcinoma should be considered.