Expectant management of choriocarcinoma limited to placenta.

Choriocarcinoma limited to placenta was discovered "incidentally" following a seemingly uneventful term pregnancy. The newborn had unsuspected severe anemia and thrombocytopenia, due to fetomaternal hemorrhage. His recovery was good following transfusions. The mother was asymptomatic and her extensive workup for metastatic choriocarcinoma was negative. She was subsequently managed expectantly and monitored with serial serum beta-hCG, demonstrating near-logarithmic decline to non-pregnant levels within 5 weeks of delivery.