title: Avoiding harmful procedures in patients with elevated α-fetoprotein concentrations: hereditary persistence of α-fetoprotein is an important and benign differential diagnosis!
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hereditary persistence of α-fetoprotein (AFP) is a rare but benign condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 13-year-old girl presented with dysmenorrhoic complaints and irregular cycles. Diagnostic workup revealed a cystic lesion of the ovary and elevated AFP; β-human chorionic gonadotrophin was negative. Right-sided ovarectomy was performed. Postsurgery AFP concentration did not decline. The patient underwent further diagnostic workup with negative results. Histology revealed follicular cysts but no tumor. Finally, hereditary persistence of AFP was suspected and AFP testing was performed in the family.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to include hereditary persistence of AFP in the differential diagnosis of elevated AFP concentrations to avoid harmful procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Technische Universität München, München, Germany. Walter.Bonfig@lrz.tum.de
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bonfig
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hempel
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Teichert-von Lüttichau
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liptay
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burdach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010052:Ovariectomy; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins