NEONATAL CHORIOCARCINOMA OF LIVER

Neonatal choriocarcinoma associated with a seemingly normal gestation is rare. A total of 20 cases of either primary or metastatic choriocar cinoma in infancy have been reported until 1992. We report an addition al case of a huge choriocarcinoma of the liver in a 2-month-old boy, w ho died of tumor hemorrhage. This baby was born to a 19-year-old unmar ried mother. The placenta was thought to be normal and was not examine d histologically. The liver mass was first noted 2 weeks after birth, and he was admitted because of poor feeding and pallor. Before any the rapy was instituted, he died of massive tumor bleeding. Autopsy reveal ed a huge hemorrhagic tumor mass with massive necrosis in tile left lo be of the liver. Several nodular metastases were found only in the lun g. The remainder was unremarkable except for bilateral cleft lip and p alate. It is presumed that the choriocarcinoma in the liver could be e ither a primary tumor in the absence of any primary focus in the mothe r or the infant or a metastatic lesion from an occult choriocarcinoma of the placenta.