Choriocarcinoma

Testis and epididymis
Germ cell tumors
Choriocarcinoma

Author: Turki Al-Hussain, M.D. (see Authors page)

Revised: 3 July 2017, last major update January 2013

Copyright: (c) 2002-2017, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: Choriocarcinoma [title] testis

Table of Contents

Cite this page: Choriocarcinoma. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/testischorio.html. Accessed July 15th, 2017.

Definition / general

0.3% to 1% of germ cell tumors are pure choriocarcinoma but mixed tumors are more common (8%)
May present initially with metastases (liver, lung, mediastinum, retroperitoneum) with normal testis or small tumor but with increased serum hCG
Identical tumors arise in placenta, ovary, mediastinum or abdomen (from sequestered cell rests)
Usually fatal if pure
Hematogenous spread early to lungs, liver and brain

Case reports

19 year old man with monophasic tumor with only rare syncytiotrophoblasts (Am J Surg Pathol 1997;21:282)

Gross description

Hemorrhagic and necrotic mass, small, may be replaced by fibrous scar with hemosiderin because it outgrows blood supply; resembles disintegrating clot

Microscopic (histologic) description

Hemorrhage and necrosis common
Cytotrophoblast (polygonal / round cells with distinct cell borders, clear cytoplasm and single bland nucleus) and syncytiotrophoblast (large multinuclear cell with eosinophilic and vacuolated cytoplasm) are closely intermingled in biphasic plexiform pattern as in chorionic villi; only significant if major component of tumor; no effect on prognosis if part of mixed tumor
Intratubular germ cell neoplasia in adjacent testis is common

Microscopic (histologic) images

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