Primary Pancreatic Choriocarcinoma Presenting as Pancreatitis

  • Biggs Saravanan Ramachandran Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Madras Medical College. Chennai, India
  • Malarvizhi Murugesan Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Madras Medical College. Chennai, India
  • Mohammed Ali Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Madras Medical College. Chennai, India
  • Purushotaman Padmanabhan Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Madras Medical College. Chennai, India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6092/1590-8577/498
Keywords: Choriocarcinoma, Endosonography, Pancreatic Neoplasms

Abstract

Context Pancreatic cancers can present with pancreatitis or its complications. Pancreatic choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare disease to involve pancreas. Case report A 27-year-old married woman presented to our facility with abdominal pain and fullness of 20-day duration. She was clinically diagnosed as acute pancreatitis with pseudocyst as a complication. Serum amylase was elevated with CT scan of abdomen showing a cystic lesion involving the pancreas. We approached the cyst with endoscopic ultrasonography and cyst fluid was aspirated and analyzed. Cyst fluid amylase was elevated and cytology revealed germ cell tumor. Serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin was elevated. She had a swelling over the jaw which also revealed choriocarcinoma in histopathological examination. Patient was started with chemotherapy. Conclusion We report this case of pancreatic choriocarcinoma due to its extreme rarity and the diagnostic dilemma it posed.

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Cytology smear showing large, pleomorphic mononucleated cells having large, hyperchromatic, pleomorphic nuclei
Published
2012-03-10
How to Cite
RamachandranB., MurugesanM., AliM., & PadmanabhanP. (2012). Primary Pancreatic Choriocarcinoma Presenting as Pancreatitis. JOP. Journal of the Pancreas, 13(2), 217-218. https://doi.org/10.6092/1590-8577/498
Issue
Vol 13 No 2 (2012): March - p. 124-251
Section
CASE REPORTS

Copyright (c) 2014 Biggs Saravanan Ramachandran, Malarvizhi Murugesan, Mohammed Ali, Purushotaman Padmanabhan

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