[Successful management of choriocarcinoma of the testis with brain metastasis: a case report]

Abstract

A 32-year-old Japanese male consulted a clinic complaining of gynecomastia. Right painless scrotal swelling was also detected. Right high orchiectomy was performed, then the surgical specimen was histopathologically confirmed as choriocarcinoma and mature teratoma. The imaging revealed cerebral, pulmonary, retroperitoneal metastases. After 3 courses of combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and peplomycin (PEP therapy), the brain metastasis completely disappeared and the serum titer of the tumor markers such as beta-HCG became normal. The regression rates of lung and retroperitoneal metastases were 68% and 27%, respectively. Therefore, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed. After the 5th course of PEP therapy, lung metastases disappeared completely. Until the present, no evidence of disease has persisted. The PEP therapy, which is a salvage therapy for refractory testicular cancer, was performed as first-line chemotherapy in this case. It was an excellent modality against choriocarcinoma, along with the surgical treatment.