Metastatic choriocarcinoma of the breast: report of a rare case and review of literature

Abstract

Choriocarcinoma (CC) is a malignant tumor of trophoblastic tissue composed of cytotrophoblastic, intermediate and syncytiotrophoblast cells. Choriocarcinoma predominantly has a gestational origin. The non-gestational type is said to arise from the gonads and pluripotent germ cells. It is a rapidly invasive tumor and metastasizes widely, but it has a good response to chemotherapy once identified. Metastatic choriocarcinoma are extremely rare in the breast. Choriocarcinomatous differentiation has also been described in neoplasm arising from many organs including colon, stomach, rectum, urinary bladder and lung. In this case report, the history, physical examination, laboratory findings and pathological findings of metastatic choriocarcinoma of the breast in a 24-year-old female are described and previous literature about metastatic choriocarcinoma is reviewed.