title: Significance of simultaneous determination of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and hCG-beta in testicular tumor patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Simultaneous determinations of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and hCG-beta frequently produce discrepancies, that is when hCG or hCG-beta is normal, the other is elevated. Accordingly, we examined the significance of simultaneous determination of serum hCG and hCG-beta in testicular tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Simultaneous determination of hCG and hCG-beta was performed in 54 patients with testicular seminoma and 74 with non-seminomatous testicular tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For detection of seminoma patients, hCG-beta was more effective than hCG because hCG-beta was positive in 83% (45/54) of the patients and hCG was positive in 50% (27/54). In non-seminomatous testicular tumor cases, hCG-beta was positive in 74% (55/74) and hCG was positive in 82% (61/74). The cases of hCG<1.0 mIU/mL and HCG-beta>0.1 ng/mL were significantly more frequently seen in patients with seminoma than in those with non-seminomatous testicular tumor (P < 0.001). Fourteen patients had recurrent tumor. At recurrence, only hCG was elevated in nine cases, only hCG-beta was elevated in two cases and both in one case. For diagnosis of falsely positive hCG, testosterone administration was effective because after testosterone administration, serum hCG levels became undetectable (< 1.0 mIU/mL) within one week in three examined cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human chorionic gonadotropin-beta was a better marker of seminoma than hCG. For earlier detection of recurrence, both markers should be examined. For diagnosis of falsely positive hCG, testosterone administration was effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. hoshi@uro.med.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishidoya
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ohyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Namima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orikasa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018239:Seminoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human