Successful neoadjuvant synchronous chemo- and radiotherapy for disseminated primary intracranial choriocarcinoma: case report

J Neurooncol. 2007 Jun;83(2):199-204. doi: 10.1007/s11060-006-9311-1. Epub 2007 Jan 5.

Abstract

We report a 17-year-old male with disseminated intracranial choriocarcinoma at the basal ganglia whose consciousness level was very low at diagnosis. He received neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) consisting of combined chemo- and radiotherapy prior to radical excision of the tumor. Postoperatively he was treated with three courses of high-dose chemotherapy (carboplatin (CBDCA), methotrexate (MTX), and etoposide (VP-16)) and peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation. This combination of therapies resulted in tumor regression on MRI and remarkable improvement in his neurological condition. Ours is the first report of the effectiveness of NAT followed by radical surgery in a patient with disseminated primary intracranial choriocarcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / blood
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage
  • Choriocarcinoma / blood
  • Choriocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Choriocarcinoma / radiotherapy*
  • Choriocarcinoma / surgery
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / blood
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy / methods*
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
  • Etoposide
  • Carboplatin
  • Methotrexate