RECTAL ADENOCARCINOMA WITH GERM-CELL ELEMENTS TREATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY

A patient with adenocarcinoma of the rectum containing germ cell eleme nts in the form of endodermal sinus tumor and choriocarcinoma is descr ibed, believed to be the first such tumor reported in the literature. The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin were markedly elevated. The source of the markers was localized to th e neoplastic tissue by the immunoperoxidase technique. The patient dev eloped extensive hepatic metastases thought to be due to choriocarcino ma for which she received chemotherapy. One wk after commencing treatm ent a massive fatal hepatic hemorrhage occurred.