Introduction

In 1980, Tsuchiya et al. [1] described the first case of a choriocarcinoma of the testis. Since then only a few cases of choriocarcinoma have been reported. Choriocarcinoma is a germinal tumor arising from testicular cells in men or from fetal trophoblast in women. Pure testicular choriocarcinoma is a rare germ cell neoplasm, accounting for less than 3% of all the testicular neoplasms. It usually metastasizes to the lungs, liver and brain.

We present a case of pure choriocarcinoma revealed by jaundice in a young man. Despite general chemotherapy, he died due to lymph node metastasis at the hepatic hilum.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old man who was a native of Morocco without prior medical history presented with a four-week history of progressive obstructive jaundice and weight loss to our emergency department. On physical examination he looked tired, his temperature was normal (37.5C), and he displayed conjunctival icterus. His abdominal examination was normal and a rectal examination found no tenderness or blood.

Laboratory findings at admission showed: leukocytes 12.5G/L (normal range, 4.4 to 11.3), hemoglobin 12.5g/dL (normal range, 14 to 17.5), lactic dehydrogenase 416U/L (normal range, 120 to 240), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) 107U/L (normal, <19), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) 210U/L (normal, <23), γ-glutamyltransferase 110U/L (normal, <29), alkaline phosphatase 592U/L (normal range, 55 to 170), bilirubin 40.19μmol/L (normal range, 1.71 to 20.52), and C-reactive protein (CRP) 102mg/L (normal, <9).

Abdominal ultrasound (Figure 1) revealed a dilatation of the biliary ducts. Computed tomography (CT) (Figure 2) showed pathologically-enlarged lymph nodes of the hepatic hilum, the largest being 8.9 × 6.6cm, probably partially necrotic associated with manifold retroperitoneal lateral-aortic and interaortocaval lymph nodes. CT of the brain, chest, abdomen and pelvis showed multiple nodular lesions in both lungs, the largest being 1.2cm.

Figure 1
figure 1

Abdominal ultrasound revealed a dilatation of the biliary ducts.

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Figure 2
figure 2

Computed tomography (CT) showed pathologically-enlarged lymph nodes of the hepatic hilium, probably partially necrotic.

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Because of his young age, we performed a complete serum analysis with testicular tumor markers. His serum beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) level was 11,000IU/ml (normal range, 0 to 25IU/ml), serum alpha-fetal protein was 0.426IU/ml (normal < 7.2IU/ml), serum lactate dehydrogenase was 438U/L (normal range, 225 to 450U/L), carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were in the normal range.

The diagnosis of testicular tumor was suspected. Further exploration included testicular palpation and ultrasound which revealed a right testicular nodule that was 2cm in its largest diameter, at the lower pole of the testis with low echogenicity and heterogeneity.

He underwent right inguinal orchidectomy and histopathological examination showed choriocarcinoma of the right testis (Figures 3, 4). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was done after discussion with our tumor board, and the result was consistent with the diagnosis of pure choriocarcinoma. He was categorized as having a poor prognosis due to the high HCG level and the presence of lung metastasis. He was started on chemotherapy consisting of a combination of cisplatinum 20 mg/m2, etoposide 100 mg/m2 given on five consecutive days and bleomycin 30 mg on days one, eight, and 15. He died one month later due to respiratory distress.

Figure 3
figure 3

Testicular choriocarcinoma. A plexiform pattern with syncytiotrophoblasts covering clusters of smaller cytotrophoblasts (hematoxylin and eosin stain X 10).

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Figure 4
figure 4

Syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts cells along the hemorrhagic foci (hematoxylin and eosin stain X40).

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Discussion

Choriocarcinomas are rare, accounting for less than 1% to 3% of all the testicular neoplasms. They can also be found in combination with other germ cell tumor elements in 8% of testicular germ cell tumors [2]. Tumors are mostly found in patients in their second to fourth decade of life. Choriocarcinomas are highly malignant lesions with the potential for early, hematogenous metastases to the lung, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and brain [3, 4]. Choriocarcinoma has the worst prognosis of all germ cell tumors [5]. It is a malignant growth of trophoblastic cells, which is characterized by the secretion of HCG [6]. It usually arises as gestational choriocarcinoma, from fetal trophoblasts of a previous hydatidiform mole pregnancy. In rare instances, it arises from germ cells in the testis or ovary. Choriocarcinoma is conventionally classified as pure choriocarcinoma, which is composed of only syncytiotrophoblastic and cytotrophoblastic components, or as a mixed germ cell tumor, which contains choriocarcinoma as one of the components. In men, it usually occurs as a component of testicular mixed germ cell tumors, whereas its pure form represents less than 3% of all the cases [7]. Clinical examination of the testis can be normal. This is because the primary site may be quite small, or even totally regressed, although there is widespread metastatic involvement as in our case in which the patient had a generalized metastatic disease with a small lesion in his testis. Non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis usually metastasize to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, lung, liver and brain. Metastasis to hepatic hilar lymph nodes is very rare [8, 9].

Patients often have symptoms of metastasis before the primary lesion is detected. Sahraoui et al. [10] report in a review of the literature of 17 patients where metastases revealed the disease in seven cases (41%; lung in four cases and skin in three cases).

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report where jaundice is the first symptom due to larger and compressive lymph nodes of the hepatic hilum. Therefore, our patient was at first evaluated by the gastroenterology team at presentation. His young age in combination with undiagnosed abdominal or chest masses led to the measurement of tumor markers of the testis before he was referred to our institution.

On histopathological examination, the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma is based on morphologic features with the finding of cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts; positive staining for HCG and cytokeratin are also important. The syncytiotrophoblastic cells are usually multinucleated with deeply staining, eosinophilic to amphophilic cytoplasm, and the cytotrophoblastic cells have pale to clear cytoplasm with a single, irregularly shaped nucleus with one or two prominent nucleoli [11]. However, the demonstration of the production or the secretion of HCG is complementary to morphologic diagnosis, because other nontrophoblastic tumors (for example, lung, breast, melanoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma) can also produce detectable levels of HCG in the serum. Blood vessel invasion is commonly identified in all of the patterns [12].

The origin of the histopathological appearance is due to the strain cell of embryonal carcinomas. They grow through imitation of the trophoblastic tissue of the placenta [13].

Orchidectomy followed by chemotherapy in germ cell tumors associated with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is mandatory. After orchidectomy the patient underwent a protocol of four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) as recommended in the poor prognosis group with survival rates of 45% and 50% [14]. Ismaili et al. [15] report a good course in older men with metastatic seminoma of the testis associated with liver and renal insufficiencies who were managed successfully with carboplatin-based chemotherapy. In our case, the patient did not have any renal failure or decreased level of prothrombin, despite the presence of the hepatic metabolic disturbance. Therefore, our team did not change the standard protocol consisting of cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

The prognosis of a choriocarcinoma is worse than others due to its early hematogenous metastasis. Sahraoui et al. [10] reported 14 patients who had a metastasis involution after treatment of whom six died within three days to 14 months, and 11 are alive after six to 96 months.

Conclusions

This case is rare in being pure choriocarcinoma of the testis, which accounts for less than 3% of the testicular neoplasms with an unusual clinical presentation. Investigation for primary testicular germ cell tumors is essential in young men with unidentified tumor metastasis. The detection of the testicular tumor markers may provide an important clue to the diagnosis.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient’s next-of-kin for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.