title: Aberrant expression of beta-HCG in anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
abstract: We report a case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) showing aberrant expression of beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG). The patient was a 14-year-old boy who presented with a right inguinal mass and a raised serum beta-HCG level. Biopsy of the mass revealed a malignant neoplasm composed of large, pleomorphic cells with prominent nucleoli. These malignant cells showed positive staining with CD30, ALK, epithelial membrane antigen, and beta-HCG. Chromosomal analysis showed t(2;5)(p23;q35) translocation, and polymerase chain reaction demonstrated T-cell receptor gene rearrangement. The patient did not respond well to chemotherapy, and he died 8 months after the diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the 1st case of ALCL showing aberrant expression of beta-HCG and associated with a raised serum level of beta-HCG. We report this case to bring awareness of this presumably rare occurrence to avoid the risk of misdiagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough Street, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: May Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMullan
authors.forename: Pramila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human