Healthy women with persistently elevated hCG levels: a case series of fourteen women.
OBJECTIVE
To review our own data and that in the literature in order to assess likely morbidity and mortality risks and enhance the information that we can provide to patients suffering with this condition.


METHODS
This was a retrospective case series using data from the Sheffield Trophoblastic Disease Centre Database combined with data from prior publications.


RESULTS
A diagnosis of elevated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in an otherwise healthy woman carries an 11-19% risk of malignancy and 1-3% risk of mortality. Irrespective of persistently elevated hCG, however, pregnancy appears to be a viable and safe prospect.


CONCLUSIONS
Persistently elevated hCG in healthy, nonpregnant women is a rare clinical scenario. Due to the rarity of this condition and potential future malignancy risk, we believe that reporting of future cases is crucial, as is a liaison between national and international trophoblastic disease centers, if we are to gain a more thorough understanding of this possibly premalignant condition.
Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the Sheffield Trophoblastic Disease Centre, Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
George
G
Angelopoulos
Julia E
JE
Palmer
Barry W
BW
Hancock
John A
JA
Tidy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018245:Trophoblastic Tumor, Placental Site / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D008727:Methotrexate