Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix associated with choriocarcinomatous differentiation: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

The morphology of the choriocarcinomatous variant of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) suggests an undifferentiated aggressive biological behaviour and a poor outcome, for which standard treatment has not been established. In addition, cases are rarely reported, with only five cases of patients with cervical carcinoma with choriocarcinoma reported previously in the literature. This current case report describes in detail a patient who was diagnosed with cervical SCC mixed with choriocarcinomatous differentiation. The case report includes details of the diagnosis, pathology, short tandem repeat genotyping, treatment and follow-up of this patient. As there is no standard treatment for this variant, the patient underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy. Unfortunately, 4 months after therapy discontinuation, radiological evaluation and laboratory tests documented a recurrence of the disease and the patient died. This report also systematically reviews the literature on cervical cancer associated with choriocarcinomatous differentiation and the five previous cases. It provides the most up-to-date summary of this disease, including its clinical manifestations, histopathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.