NONGESTATIONAL CHORIOCARCINOMA IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD - A CASE-REPORT

Purpose: To determine the tissue of origin (gestational versus nongest ational) of an extensive metastatic choriocarcinoma in an 18-year-old woman to determine prognosis and treatment. Methods: DNA microsatellit e polymorphisms after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the tumor tissue and blood from the patient, husband, and daughter we re used to determine the tissue of origin. Results: Molecular analyses revealed that the tumor shared the genetic features of only the patie nt. She responded well to multiagent chemotherapy. Conclusions: Molecu lar analysis is a useful tool to determine whether a choriocarcinoma o ccurring in a female patient of childbearing age is gestational or non gestational when clinical findings are not clearly indicative of the p rimary.