title: [Two cases of testicular cancer with low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels after treatment].
abstract: Some patients with testicular cancer exhibit low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels even after successful treatment. We report 2 patients with testicular cancer (2 non-seminomatous germ cell tumors [NSGCTs]) and low betahhCG levels with no recurrence after successful treatment. The first patient is a 45-year-old man with pulmonary and retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. During the first chemotherapy the hCG level decreased but remained at a low level. Salvage chemotherapy had no effect on the hCG level, but a low betahCG level persisted for 16 months. The second case is a 19-year-old man with testicular cancer with retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. The patient underwent an operation for residual masses after chemotherapy. Pathological findings showed necrotic tissue, and a low betahCG level persist for 160 months. A low hCG level does not necessarily meen residual malignancy. Patients with a low hCG level should be monaged carefully avoiding needless treatment.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Urology, Kanagawa Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Akitoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujinami
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis*; D018237:Germinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C063554:urinary gonadotropin fragment