Choriocarcinoma

How is the disease diagnosed?

After a molar pregnancy is diagnosed and removed, blood samples will be taken. Beta-HCG, a tumor marker, will be measured. If the levels do not drop over time, CT scans are used. These scans help the doctor to look for a tumor remaining in the uterus or one that has spread elsewhere. If a tumor is found, a biopsy is done to confirm the presence and type of cancer. In men, a piece of tissue removed from a tumor, usually in the testicle, may show this form of testicular cancer.