title: Beta-chain human chorionic gonadotropin-producing leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine.
abstract: A 22-year-old patient with primary leiomyosarcoma of the small bowel presented with symptoms including nausea and vomiting, a symptom complex similar to hyperemesis gravidarum in the pregnant female. She was found to have elevated levels of serum beta-HCG which were localized to the leiomyosarcoma cells utilizing an immunoperoxidase staining technique. Thus, this patient presents evidence that beta-HCG may be produced by sarcoma cells and, therefore, that beta-HCG may be used as a tumor marker in some sarcoma patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000473:pathology; D007078:Ileal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007813:Laparotomy; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D009384:Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin