title: False positive beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in testicular cancer.
abstract: Persistent elevations in serum markers after chemotherapy for germ cell testicular carcinoma indicate residual disease. We report on a patient with advanced seminoma with choriocarcinoma who had elevated serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) and residual masses on computerized tomography scan after chemotherapy. Wedge liver resection and retroperitoneal node dissection yielded only necrotic tissue which assayed and immunoperoxidase stained positively for beta-HCG. Serum beta-HCG fell to undetectable levels postoperatively, and the patient remains disease-free after three years. Phagocytosis of necrotic tumor apparently released entrapped beta-HCG resulting in a false positive tumor marker.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000097:blood*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments