title: Lung carcinoma presenting with pathologic femur fracture and false-positive pregnancy test result.
abstract: β-Human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) assays are routinely used to test for pregnancy. However, βhCG may be elevated in conditions other than pregnancy. We describe a case of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma presenting with a pathologic femur fracture and a false-positive urine pregnancy test. Lung cancer is the most common nongestational malignancy that produces βhCG among reproductive-age women. Emergency physicians should consider this rare cause of a positive pregnancy test result in women who deny recent sexual intercourse, especially if the patient is older than 40 years, has a history of tobacco use, or presents with respiratory complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. bmaughan@brown.edu
authors.forename: Brandon C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Maughan
authors.forename: Achyut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamat
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011258:Pregnancy Tests
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human