The aim of this report is to present one case of gestational trophoblastic disease with pulmonary metastases apparently persisting despite the return of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) to normal levels after five cycles of chemotherapy (20 mg methotrexate/day for 5 days). The patient was submitted to a video-assisted thoracoscopy and the nodules were excised. Histological examination showed tissue necrosis without evidence of residual tumor. It is important to recognize that persistent nodules in the lungs of patients with metastatic gestational disease after treatment and normal beta-hCG titers may not represent viable tumor but rather necrosis and/or fibrosis.
Trophoblastic gestational disease; Metastasis; Chemotherapy; Chorionic gonadotropin
