Choriocarcinoma

A rare cancerous tumour that develops from placental tissue in the uterus, usually as a complication of a hydatidiform mole (a noncancerous tumour) but sometimes after a normal pregnancy or a miscarriage. Untreated, it destroys the walls of the uterus and may spread to the vagina and vulva and, eventually, to the liver, lungs, brain, and bones. Successful treatment relies on early diagnosis. If a woman has a hydatidiform mole, she is screened regularly after treatment using ultrasound scanning and tests to measure blood and urine levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). High levels of HCG are associated with choreocarcinoma. Treatment is with anticancer drugs.