SALVAGE LIVER SURGERY OF A CHEMOREFRACTORY OVARIAN CHORIOCARCINOMA

A 41-year-old woman with pure ovarian choriocarcinoma and widespread l iver metastases became refractory to standard cisplatin-based chemothe rapy regimens. As metastatic disease was limited to the liver and oper able, the patient underwent complete resection of three liver metastas es. The serum human chorionic gonadotrophin level promptly returned to normal values. Pathologic studies demonstrated the presence of active residual disease composed of typical syncytiotrophoblastic and cytotr ophoblastic cells and large mononucleated intermediate cells. The pati ent remained disease-free for more than 5 years after treatment. It is concluded that liver salvage surgery may cure patients with chemorefr actory ovarian choriocarcinoma with metastases to the liver. (C) 1997 Academic Press.