The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology  2015;66(5):291-296

doi:10.4166/kjg.2015.66.5.291

Primary Adenocarcinoma with Focal Choriocarcinomatous Differentiation in the Sigmoid Colon.

Sook Kyoung OH 1 ; Hyung Wook KIM ; Dae Hwan KANG ; Cheol Woong CHOI ; Yu Yi CHOI ; Hong Kyu LIM ; Ja Jun GOO ; Sung Yeol CHOI

Affiliations

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Keywords

Adenocarcinoma; Choriocarcinoma; Colon; Drug therapy

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Primary colorectal choriocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm. Only 19 cases have been reported worldwide, most of which involved adenocarcinomas. The prognosis is usually poor, and the standard therapy for this tumor has not been established. A 61-year-old woman presented with constipation and lower abdominal discomfort. She was diagnosed with primary adenocarcinoma with focal choriocarcinomatous differentiation in the sigmoid colon and liver metastasis. Because the serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level was not significantly elevated, and because only focal choriocarcinomatous differentiation was diagnosed, we selected the chemotherapy regimen that is used for the treatment of metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma. The patient survived for 13 months after the initial diagnosis. This is the first case in Korea to assess the suppressive effects of the standard chemotherapy for colorectal adenocarcinoma against coexisting colorectal choriocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma.