Implications for the pathogenesis of aneurysm formation: metastatic choriocarcinoma with spontaneous splenic rupture. Case report and a review

An Extremely Rare Case of Splenic Rupture Secondary to Metastatic Gestational Choriocarcinoma

Gestational choriocarcinoma (GC) is an uncommon malignant tumor consisting of trophoblastic cells. The lungs, liver, and central nervous system are the most common metastatic sites for this disease. However, splenic metastasis is unusual and might result in spontaneous rupture. Symptoms associated with splenic rupture may be the first presentation of malignancy. A thorough medical history and examination are necessary to detect the primary lesion. Herein, we present a case of a 23-year-old female who had splenic rupture secondary to choriocarcinoma metastasis. Although the emergency condition had been solved, the patient died 1 month after due to brain metastasis. The goal of this article was to report a new case of spontaneous splenic rupture caused by choriocarcinoma metastasis and to review the existing literature on splenic metastases associated with GC, including the epidemiology and etiology.

Non-myxoma neoplastic cerebral aneurysms: A systematic review

Neoplastic cerebral aneurysms (NCAs) are highly rare lesions characterized by invasion of cancerous cells within the wall of an artery leading to aneurysm formation. While NCAs caused by myxomas are well characterized in the clinical literature, rarer etiologies have also been reported and are typically associated worse clinical outcomes. We performed the first PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review of true, non-myxoma neoplastic cerebral aneurysms using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Data of interest included age, sex, aneurysm size, number of aneurysms, aneurysm location, neoplasm type, aneurysm treatments, cancer treatments, risk of rupture, intracerebral hemorrhage prevalence, subarachnoid hemorrhage prevalence, and survival at 90 and 180 days. A total of 50 studies met our inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patient population was 37.4 years (SD: ±16.8) and had an overall female preponderance (39/50, 78%). Of these NCA cases, 29/50 (58.0%) were choriocarcinomas, 10/50 (20.0%) were related to lung cancer, and 11/50 (22.0%) had other origins of variable pathologies. 90-day survival rates were 60.0% (15/25) for choriocarcinomas, 28.6% (2/7) for the lung cancer group, and 14.3% (1/7) for the other origins group. 180-day survival rates were 52.0% (13/25) for the choriocarcinoma group, 14.3% (1/7) for the lung cancer group, and 0% (0/7) for the other origins group. Prognosis of NCA patients ultimately depends on the course of disease progression and cancer management. Further research is needed to better understand optimal treatment modalities for patients with NCAs.

Brain metastasis of choriocarcinoma presenting as multiple intracranial hematomas: A case report

RATIONALE

Choriocarcinoma is the most malignant type of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Brain metastasis is the main cause of death and disability in choriocarc- inoma patients. Brain metastasis of choriocarcinoma easily invades the vessel wall to form microaneurysms, so we have reason to believe that multiple intracerebral hemorrhage is related to neoplastic intracranial microaneurysms.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We report a rare case of brain metastasis of choriocarcinoma that caused six hemorrhages in four lesions within 50 days and anterior cerebral artery aneurysm.

DIAGNOSES

We diagnosed multiple intracerebral hematoma, choriocarcinoma and intracranial aneurysms.

INTERVENTIONS

Evacuation of hematoma by craniotomy.

OUTCOMES

The patient finally asked to terminate the treatment and was discharged. One month later, the patient died of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

LESSONS

more than 20 cases of oncotic aneurysm from choriocarcinoma have been reported in the English literature, but few had multiple hematomas. Therefore, this case is unique. Brain metastasis of choriocarcinoma should be considered when patients experience unexplained cerebral hemorrhage, especially repeated intracranial hemorrhage in women of childbearing age. Early and intensive treatment can help achieve a better prognosis and avoid a fatal outcome. Multiple intracranial hematomas are related to neoplastic intracranial microaneurysms.

Splenic rupture due to metastatic disease: a rare complication

We report a case of splenic rupture in an 83-year-old woman presenting with symptoms concerning for upper gastrointestinal malignancy. CT imaging revealed marked gastric thickening and a 33×33 mm splenic metastasis, with subsequent gastroscopy demonstrating a large lesion at the gastro-oesophageal junction. While awaiting further investigation, the patient developed acute onset left upper quadrant pain, peritonism and hypovolaemic shock. Urgent CT imaging demonstrated a ruptured spleen with extensive haemoperitoneum, necessitating emergency splenectomy.

Pitfalls in Diagnosis and Management of Testicular Choriocarcinoma Metastatic to the Brain: Report of 2 Cases and Review of Literature

INTRODUCTION

Pure choriocarcinoma of the testes is a rare, aggressive germ cell tumor that can metastasize to the brain. Although its prognosis has improved with the development of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens, cerebral metastases are prone to hemorrhage and associated with high morbidity. Here, we present 2 cases of testicular choriocarcinoma with cerebral metastasis and discuss potential pitfalls in their diagnosis and management. We also review cases in the literature that feature these rare lesions.

METHODS

Medline was searched for all publications including the terms "testicular choriocarcinoma" and "cerebral metastasis" or "brain metastasis." Articles that included patients with tumors classified as a mix of choriocarcinoma and other germ cell tumor subtypes were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 15 cases from the literature and our own 2 cases were included in the analysis. The mean age at presentation was 25.5 years. Neurologic symptoms accounted for the initial presentation of 9 patients (60%). Outcomes were predominantly poor, with 10 patients (67%) expiring shortly after their initial diagnosis. Three of these deaths were related to mass effect from metastasis-related hemorrhages. Two patients underwent emergent decompressive craniectomies, and both died from cerebral herniation.

CONCLUSION

The potentially catastrophic nature of choriocarcinoma-related cerebral hemorrhages underscores the need for prompt, accurate diagnosis and aggressive surgical management of these lesions. Their highly vascular nature and lack of findings on cerebral angiography may cause them to be confused with occult vascular malformations.

Neoplastic cerebral aneurysm from metastatic tumor: a systematic review of clinical and treatment characteristics

OBJECTIVE

Neoplastic cerebral aneurysm (NCA) is a very rare event. The authors aimed to characterize the clinical and treatment details of this poorly defined entity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A computerized systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus. Keywords used were as follows: "aneurysm"; "myxoma"; "choriocarcinoma"; "oncotic aneurysm"; "neoplastic aneurysm". Only reports with cerebral aneurysm resulting from metastatic tumor and contained adequate clinical information pertinent to the analysis were included. Clinical and treatment characteristics were analyzed.

RESULTS

Ninety-two studies reporting 96 cases of neoplastic cerebral aneurysm were identified. NCA from cardiac myxoma accounted for 60.4%, while NCA from choriocarcinoma and other tumors accounted for 26.1% and 13.5%, respectively. The rates of intracranial hemorrhages were 19.6% in NCA from myxoma, 100% in NCA from choriocarcinoma, and 84.6% in NCA from other tumors. 75.9% of NCA from myxoma were managed conservatively, 92% of NCA from choriocarcinoma were treated by surgery and/or chemotherapy, and 69.2% of NCA from other tumors were treated by surgery with or without chemotherapy. The mortality rates were 11.4% in NCA from myxoma, 60.9% in NCA from choriocarcinoma, and 92.3% in NCA from other tumors. According to a multiple logistic regression model, "pathology (P = 0.002)" is significantly correlated with outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Neoplastic cerebral aneurysms are usually complicated with cardiac myxoma, choriocarcinoma and lung carcinoma. NCA from cardiac myxoma were probably multiple and rarely associated with intracranial hemorrhage, while the majority of NCA from choriocarcinoma and other tumors were single and presented with intracranial hemorrhage. The prognosis is quite good in NCA from cardiac myxoma, while NCA from malignant tumors were associated with poor outcome.

Intracerebral hemorrhage cause by a ruptured oncotic aneurysm from choriocarcinoma metastasis

Ruptured oncotic aneurysms from choriocarcioma metastasis are very rare. One rare case of metastatic cerebral choriocarcioma with an initial presentation of intracerebral hemorrhage is reported. A 25-year-old woman initially presented with sudden onset of alteration of consciousness. The computed tomography scan showed left parietal hematoma and CT angiography showed a small aneurysm of the left middle cerebral arteries territories. Her chest X-ray showed two lung masses. A craniectomy was performed to remove the hematoma and decompression following the aneurysm excision. After surgery the patient regained consciousness and had no neurological deficit. The pathology reported metastatic choriocarcioma and her beta – HCG was 73,656 units. After recovery she received chemotherapy with an etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine/oncovine (EMA-CO) regimen.

613 cases of splenic rupture without risk factors or previously diagnosed disease: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Rupture of the spleen in the absence of trauma or previously diagnosed disease is largely ignored in the emergency literature and is often not documented as such in journals from other fields. We have conducted a systematic review of the literature to highlight the surprisingly frequent occurrence of this phenomenon and to document the diversity of diseases that can present in this fashion.

METHODS

Systematic review of English and French language publications catalogued in Pubmed, Embase and CINAHL between 1950 and 2011.

RESULTS

We found 613 cases of splenic rupture meeting the criteria above, 327 of which occurred as the presenting complaint of an underlying disease and 112 of which occurred following a medical procedure. Rupture appeared to occur spontaneously in histologically normal (but not necessarily normal size) spleens in 35 cases and after minor trauma in 23 cases. Medications were implicated in 47 cases, a splenic or adjacent anatomical abnormality in 31 cases and pregnancy or its complications in 38 cases. The most common associated diseases were infectious (n = 143), haematologic (n = 84) and non-haematologic neoplasms (n = 48). Amyloidosis (n = 24), internal trauma such as cough or vomiting (n = 17) and rheumatologic diseases (n = 10) are less frequently reported. Colonoscopy (n = 87) was the procedure reported most frequently as a cause of rupture. The anatomic abnormalities associated with rupture include splenic cysts (n = 6), infarction (n = 6) and hamartomata (n = 5). Medications associated with rupture include anticoagulants (n = 21), thrombolytics (n = 13) and recombinant G-CSF (n = 10). Other causes or associations reported very infrequently include other endoscopy, pulmonary, cardiac or abdominal surgery, hysterectomy, peliosis, empyema, remote pancreato-renal transplant, thrombosed splenic vein, hemangiomata, pancreatic pseudocysts, splenic artery aneurysm, cholesterol embolism, splenic granuloma, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, rib exostosis, pancreatitis, Gaucher's disease, Wilson's disease, pheochromocytoma, afibrinogenemia and ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency physicians should be attuned to the fact that rupture of the spleen can occur in the absence of major trauma or previously diagnosed splenic disease. The occurrence of such a rupture is likely to be the manifesting complaint of an underlying disease. Furthermore, colonoscopy should be more widely documented as a cause of splenic rupture.

Ruptured cerebral oncotic aneurysm from choriocarcinoma: report of two cases and review of the literature

The study design involved case reports and review of the literature. Oncotic aneurysm from choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare event that should be known by all neurosurgeons and suspected in women of childbearing age. The purpose of this article is to report the authors' experience and to provide insight on clinical presentation and radiological signs to aware the reader to this entity and then to prevent misdiagnosis. The authors report two cases of ruptured oncotic aneurysm treated at their institution in 2010. A review of the literature was performed to discuss the pathogenesis and the role of the neurosurgeon. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice making surgery necessary only for patients with large intracerebral haematoma that represents an immediate threat.

Metastatic choriocarcinoma with multiple neoplastic intracranial microaneurysms

✓The authors report on a case of a metastatic choriocarcinoma that mimicked systemic necrotizing vasculitis on a cerebral angiogram. A 35-year-old woman presented with right hemiplegia and a drowsy mental state. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an intracerebral hemorrhage in the left frontal region. A cerebral angiogram showed multiple microaneurysms arising from the bilateral anterior cerebral arteries and middle cerebral arteries, and the renal angiogram showed multiple microaneurysms arising from the left distal renal artery. A chest CT scan revealed multiple metastatic lesions in the left lower lung field. The hematoma and microaneurysms were surgically removed. Choriocarcinoma was diagnosed after histological examination. Despite receiving postoperative chemotherapy, the patient died 1 month after the operation.

Intracerebral hemorrhage as initial presentation of gestational choriocarcinoma: a case report and literature review

Choriocarcinoma is the most malignant tumor of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. It grows rapidly and metastasizes to the lung, liver, and, less frequently, to the brain. One rare case of metastatic cerebral choriocarcinoma with initial presentation of intracerebral hemorrhage is reported. A 40-year-old woman initially presented sudden onset of headache. Intracerebral hemorrhage resulting from ruptured pseudoaneurysm was suspected. Emergent surgery with excision of the pseudoaneurysms was performed. Metastatic choriocarcinoma was accidentally found with positive immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratin and β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG). Choriocarcinoma with brain metastases was diagnosed. She then received chemotherapy with regimen of etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMACO). Elevated serum β-HCG (30.3 mIU/mL) and new pulmonary lesions were noted by computed tomography 4 months after completion of EMACO. Salvage chemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D, etoposide, and cisplatin (EMAEP) regimen was given. Seven months later after completion of EMAEP, two new pulmonary lesions were detected by positron emission tomography (PET) scan. So she received video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with tumor excision. Pathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of lung metastases. The patient recovered well. She is free of disease for 12 months. The diagnosis of metastatic cerebral choriocarcinoma was only made by histopathology after craniotomy. Metastatic choriocarcinoma should be always in the differential diagnosis for women at childbearing age presenting with unexplained stroke-like symptoms. In addition, PET scan may be valuable in detecting occult metastatic lesions of choriocarcinoma.

Metastatic tumors to the spleen: a 25-year clinicopathologic study

OBJECTIVE

The clinicopathologic features of splenic metastases have seldom been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and pathological impact of splenic metastases.

CASE MATERIAL

We reviewed the clinical/autopsy records and pathologic features of 92 Chinese patients (58 men, 34 women) with secondary nonlymphoid splenic tumors recorded during a 25-year period.

RESULTS

The incidence of splenic secondary tumors at autopsy was 0. 6% and at splenectomy, 1.1%. The lesions were often seen in elderly patients (mean age, 60 years). Seven (8%) of the splenic lesions were symptomatic. The symptomatic splenic lesions, as compared with asymptomatic lesions, were bigger and were found more often in women and younger patients. Two patients experienced spontaneous splenic rupture because of metastatic carcinoma. Eighty-seven (95%) of the secondary splenic tumors were carcinomas. Lung was the most common primary tumor site (21%), followed by the stomach (16%), pancreas (12%), liver (9%), and colon (9%). Rarely reported sources of primary tumor, such as esophageal carcinomas, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and choriocarcinoma, were also found. Splenic metastases could be identified macroscopically in 74 (80%) of our patients. Grossly, splenic metastases involved the splenic capsule (n = 8) or were solitary (n = 31), multiple (n = 30), or diffuse (n = 8) lesions in the splenic parenchyma. Isolated splenic metastases were noted in 5.3% of the metastases found at autopsy. Many of the metastatic lesions in the spleen were identified shortly after primary tumors were detected (mean latent period, 6.7 months). The time from diagnosis of the primary tumor to metastasis to the spleen was more than 2 years in 14 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Splenic metastases are uncommon. A variety of clinical and pathologic patterns were noted in our series.