Pulmonary Metastasis in Infantile Choriocarcinoma: Successful Outcome

Abstract

Background: Infantile choriocarcinoma is usually fatal without appropriate treatment. Case characteristics: A 3-month-old boy who presented with respiratory distress, hepatomegaly, amemia and bilateral nodular lesions on chest X-ray. Observation: Fine-needle liver aspiration revealed necrotic tumour cells. The serum β-hCG level was very high (2057 mIU/L), supporting a diagnosis of infantile choriocarcinoma of the liver. Surgical resection after cisplatin-based multiagent chemotherapy afforded successful remission. Message: Early treatment of infantile choriocarcinoma can yield a successful outcome. © 2018, Indian Academy of Pediatrics.