Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin: A case report

✍ Scribed by Erlichman, Charles ;Pringle, J. F. ;Quirt, I. C.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1979
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 297 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0098-1532
• DOI: 10.1002/mpo.2950060204

✦ Synopsis

The ectopic production of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is described in a patient with an anaplastic carcinoma. After chemotherapy the marker decreased in a logarithmic fashion to undetectable levels but the neoplasm progressed and the patient died. The specificity of the beta-subunit of hCG is discussed. Discordance of the marker and clinical disease is pointed out, and several possible explanations are outlined. The lack of specificity of the beta-subunit of hCG and the discordance that it may exhibit means that its use in diagnosing and following disease progression may be limited.