title: Pediatric germ cell and human chorionic gonadotropin-producing tumors. Clinical and laboratory features.
abstract: Germ cell tumors may cause various aberrations in pubertal development. In prepubertal boys, these tumors may secrete human chorionic gonadotropin, resulting in precocious puberty. Human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein are both useful as germ cell tumor markers in the diagnosis and detection of recurrence. Pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein, another oncoplacental antigen, has been used as a tumor marker for trophoblastic neoplasms, but not previously for human chorionic gonadotropin-producing tumors associated with precocious puberty. Patients with germ cell tumors may also have abnormal karyotypes. Herein, we describe six male pediatric patients with germ cell tumors and pubertal derangements seen during an 8-year period. We confirm the high incidence of associated sexual precocity, the usefulness of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein as tumor markers in the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients, and the occurrence of sex chromosomal abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, UCLA Medical Center 90024.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Englund
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Geffner
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lippe
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Braunstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007621:Karyotyping; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011268:Pregnancy-Specific beta 1-Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011268:Pregnancy-Specific beta 1-Glycoproteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone