Elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin-beta, a marker of active neurohypophyseal germinoma, detected by immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay.
We report the usefulness of a highly sensitive immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay (ICT-EIA) to detect human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-beta and thereby the onset of neurohypophyseal germinoma in its active phase. A 14-year-old girl exhibiting arrested puberty was diagnosed with neurohypophyseal germinoma following observation for two years. This patient initially showed no signs of diabetes insipidus (DI). While ICT-EIA indicated concentrations of HCG-beta higher than normal in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, the results obtained with conventional methods were negative. ICT-EIA was also useful to assess the efficacy of treatment.
Yoshizawa
Atsuko
A
Okinaka memorial Institute for Medical Research, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. ayoshizawa-endo@umin.ac.jp.|Department of Pediatrics, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. ayoshizawa-endo@umin.ac.jp.|Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Research, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8470, Japan. ayoshizawa-endo@umin.ac.jp.
Yokoya
Susumu
S
Department of Pediatrics, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Oyama
Kenichi
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Yamada
Syozo
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
D000293:Adolescent; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human