title: Humoral hypercalcemia associated with a dysgerminoma.
abstract: A 16-year-old girl sought medical attention at the Mayo Clinic because of a 4.5-kg weight loss, hypercalcemia, and a pelvic mass. Preoperatively, the level of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin was 147 IU/liter. After a brief period for observation and hydration, abdominal exploration revealed a stage III dysgerminoma; total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. Within the dysgerminoma, syncytial giant cells expressed human chorionic gonadotropin-positive immunostaining in the cytoplasm. Postoperatively, the value of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin decreased rapidly. The patient received whole-abdomen irradiation 4 weeks postoperatively, after which the level of calcium returned to normal. The patient has been free of disease for more than 7 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Giebel
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Stanhope
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Malkasian
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Schray
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gaffey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000209:etiology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery