Choriocarcinoma in the pulmonary artery treated with emergency pulmonary embolectomy

A 42-year-old woman with choriocarcinoma required emergency pulmonary embolectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. After diagnosis of choriocarcinoma was confirmed by examination of tumor emboli specimens, the patient was treated and had complete remission by chemotherapy over a 6-month period. Although rare, choriocarcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fertile women presenting with pulmonary embolism.