Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) refers to a group of malignant or benign conditions (1). Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a term for malignant tumors that consist of invasive moles, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumors (PSTTs), and epithelioid trophoblastic tumors (ETTs) (1). Choriocarcinoma is the most aggressive malignant tumor with an incidence of 0.18 per 100000 women and 1 to 9 in 40000 pregnancies between the ages of 15 and 49 years in the United States (2, 3).
Although the risk of brain metastasis in GTN is rare, and it is approximately 2-3 cases per million pregnancies, in patients with choriocarcinoma, the incidence of brain metastasis is 11% (3, 4). Based on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) anatomic staging, patients with brain metastasis are classified at disease stage IV (2). According to this staging system, FIGO stages II-III (score >7) and stage IV are considered as high-risk GTN and treated with multiple chemotherapy regimens (5).
The etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMACO) regimen is used as the most common option for the treatment of metastatic choriocarcinoma. In brain metastasis cases, an increase in intravenous methotrexate to 1 mg/m² will help better drug permeation into the blood-brain barrier (6, 7). In this case report, we aimed to present a case of choriocarcinoma with brain metastasis and unusual initial presentation of dyspnea, which was successfully treated with an EMACO regimen.

 

Case Presentation

A 34-year-old (gravida 5, para 3, abortion 2) woman was referred to the Gynecological Emergency Department of Motahari Hospital, Urmia, Iran, with vaginal bleeding, dyspnea, and moderate abdominal pain. She had a menstrual delay of about two weeks. The patient’s blood pressure was 90/60 mm Hg, and pulse and respiratory rates were 120 and 26 per minute, respectively. The fundal height was about eight weeks. Primary laboratory data showed a β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) of 132600 mIU/mL and hemoglobin (Hb) of 5  g/dL.
The patient underwent abdominal and pelvic ultrasonography, which showed the uterus larger than normal with completely heterogeneous myometrium and several hypo- and hyperechoic regions, which was consistent with molar pregnancy. The endometrium thickness was 4 mm, and there was no free fluid in the pelvis. The ultrasonography of the abdomen and ovaries was normal. The patient also underwent chest radiography, which showed a pleural effusion in the left hemithorax (Figure 1). Three units of packed cells were given, and a chest tube was inserted in the left hemithorax. β-HCG of pleural fluid was 64000 mIU/mL. Then, the patient underwent a dilation and curettage (D&C).
The final pathology of D&C revealed choriocarcinoma. So, the patient was transferred to the Gynecology-Oncology Department for further oncological management. The patient also underwent spiral computed tomography (CT) scan of the lungs and peritoneum with and without contrast, which demonstrated a moderate pleural effusion in the left hemithorax. Also, the collapse of the left lung in the inferior regions was seen. There was no abnormality in the right lung, heart, and large vessels of the mediastinum. Finally, a round lesion with a size of 68×50 mm was observed in the inferior lobe of the left lung, which was consistent with metastasis due to the patient’s history of choriocarcinoma (Figure 2).
The patient’s respiratory symptoms were mostly resolved after chest tube insertion, and she underwent further chest radiography (Figure 3) and spiral CT scan of the lungs and mediastinum (Figure 4), which showed a very mild pneumothorax near the tip of the chest tube in the posteroinferior region of the left hemithorax in the shape of a 60×60 mm loculation with an air-fluid level. Collapse consolidation was also seen in the base of the left lower lobe. Three days later, the patient became disoriented, and a neurology consultation was requested. Consequently, the patient underwent a brain CT scan that showed no abnormality, but brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was recommended for further assessment. She underwent brain MRI that showed a small mass with a size of 7 mm at the right occipital lobe with several vasogenic edema, which was consistent with brain metastasis.
The patient was started on chemotherapy with an etoposide, methotrexate (EBETREX 1000 MG/10 CC, EBEWE PHARMA, Austria), actinomycin D, cyclo-phosphamide (T Cyclophosphamide, ip,ctx-gls200, Telangana state, India), and vincristine (EMACO, usp, ACTIZA, India) regimen”? (8). It included actinomycin D 0.5 mg IV bolus, etoposide 100 mg/m² IV infusion (30 minutes), and methotrexate 1000 mg/m² IV infusion (24 hours) for the first day. It also included actinomycin D 0.5 mg IV bolus, etoposide 100 mg/m² IV infusion (30 minutes), and leucovorin calcium 15 mg orally every eight hours for nine doses, starting 32 hours after the start of methotrexate for the second day. Finally, the eighth day consisted of vincristine 1.0 mg/m² IV bolus and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m² IV infusion.
She underwent a total of four cycles; during each cycle, two vials of Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were given every other day. Only during one of the cycles, the patient did not receive G-CSF due to fever (body temperature of 38.2°C, axillary), empyema, and white blood cell (WBC) count of 30 000/mm³. In that period of time, the patient underwent thoracoscopy, and adhesion was observed in the left pleural cavity, which was resolved during thoracoscopy. It might have been the cause of incomplete drainage of pleural effusion after chest tube insertion.
The cytological study of pleural effusion showed reactive mesothelial cells, red blood cells, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages. We also administered two grams of intravenous ceftriaxone every 12 hours and 900 mg of clindamycin every eight hours for two weeks. The patient’s symptoms recovered after thoracoscopy and antibiotic administration, and the WBC count was within the normal range. During the chemotherapy course, the patient’s β-hCG decreased continuously, and it was negative (β-hCG=4 mIU/mL) after the fourth cycle. It also remained negative six months after chemotherapy. The final examinations of the patient had no abnormal findings. After treatment, the patient underwent brain MRI, and it was negative for lesions; the final chest radiography was also normal.

Figure 1. Primary chest radiography of the patient presented with dyspnea, spotting, abdominal pain and menstrual delay (pleural effusion in the left hemithorax)

Figure 2. Primary lung and mediastinum CT scan of the patient (moderate pleural effusion in the left hemithorax, collapse of left lung in the inferior regions, and a round lesion with a size of 68×50 mm in the inferior lobe of the left lung)
 
 
Figure 3. Chest radiography of patient after chest tube insertion (a very mild pneumothorax)
 
 
Figure 4. Lung and mediastinum CT scan of patient after chest tube insertion (a very mild pneumothorax in the posteroinferior region of left hemithorax in the shape of a 60×60 mm loculation with air-fluid level and collapse consolidation in the base of left lower lobe)