[Study on the indication of surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis of malignant trophoblastic tumor]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the indication of lung lobectomy in patients of malignant trophoblastic tumor with lung metastasis.

Methods: Data on a total of 629 cases of malignant trophoblastic tumor of stage III-IV in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1990 to 2003 were reviewed. Ninety-five cases including those that underwent lung lobectomy and cases with normal level of serum human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit (beta-hCG, < 2 IU/L) and residual pulmonary nodules after chemotherapy were selected and studied.

Results: Lung lobectomies were performed on six cases of invasive mole with lung metastasis and the pathological results were all necrotic nodules;another 35 cases of invasive mole with normal level of serum beta-hCG but residual pulmonary nodules after chemotherapy have been followed up for 6 months to 11 years and all were stable of diseases (SD). Lung lobectomies were performed on 29 cases of choriocarcinoma with lung metastasis. Among them, there were 17 cases whose pathological results were hemorrhage and necrotic tissue without trophoblastic cells (negative pathological results), while trophoblastic cells could still be detected in 12 cases of resected lung specimens (positive pathological results). Twenty-five cases of choriocarcinoma with normal serum beta-hCG but residual pulmonary nodules after chemotherapy were followed up, five cases had progress of disease (PD) and 20 were SD. There were no significant differences of age, stage and the last pregnancy between the positive and negative pathological results, SD and PD groups, respectively. However, the number of chemotherapeutic courses for decreasing beta-hCG from 10 IU/L to 2 IU/L and the total courses in the group of positive pathological results and PD group were significantly more than that of negative pathological results group and SD group (P = 0.01, P = 0.001).

Conclusions: For invasive mole, lung metastasis can be successfully treated by chemotherapy alone. Patients with residual pulmonary nodules but normal serum beta-hCG after chemotherapy can be followed up and spared lung lobectomy. For choriocarcinoma, slowly decreasing of beta-hCG from 10 IU/L to 2 IU/L is a high risk for chemoresistance, and it is an indication for thoracotomy. Progression of disease after multiple chemotherapy courses should be treated with lung lobectomy.