FREQUENCY AND PATTERN OF CHORIOCARCINOMA (A hospital based case series study)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and pattern of choriocarcinoma at tertiary care and private hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This descriptive case series study of six years was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad and simultaneously at private hospital as well. The pregnant ladies (19-40) years of age had non-specific symptoms as vagina bleed and abdominal pain were enrolled and evaluated for choriocarcinoma. The material consisted of hysterectomy specimen and the expelled products from the uterus, uterine curetting; suction evacuation. The specimens detail was obtained from the histopathology reports while the data was saved on pre-designed proforma and analyzed in SPSS 16. The frequency and percentages and mean ± SD was calculated. RESULTS: During six years study period, the histopathological biopsies and hysterectomy specimens revealed 16 patients with choriocarcinoma. Among sixteen cases of choriocarcinoma 12 cases (75%) had past history of hydatidiform mole and four patients (25%) had spontaneous abortion. The hysterectomy specimens in all cases consists of uterus cervix with adnexa measuring from 7 x 4 x 4 to 10 x 6 x 5.3 cms. Among these eight cases shown diffuse grayish black mass with surrounding margins of hemorrhage while the other eight cases had huge hemorrhagic areas with endometrial cavity necrosis. Microscopically the neoplasm shown abnormal proliferation of cyto and syncytiotrophoblast without formation of any villi. CONCLUSION: The incidence of choriocarcinoma is a major health trouble, thus the proper evaluation, diagnosis and followup of these patients is necessary for the early management. Keywords: Gestational trophoblastic disorders, choriocarcinoma and Hydatidiform mole.