title: A rare case of β-hCG production by a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solitary fibrous tumors are rare tumors of mesenchymal origins, most commonly seen arising from the pleural lining of the lungs. These are generally benign tumors, which in rare cases have been identified to be associated with multiple para-neoplastic syndromes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a case of a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura in a 49 year old female which was found to be associated with elevated levels of serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin β-hCG). Due to the lack of plausible causes for elevated β-hCG in the patient, immune-histochemical staining of the tumor specimen for β-hCG was obtained. This confirmed the patient's solitary fibrous tumor as the source of the β-hCG. The patient was also found to have a possible paraneoplastic syndrome with irregular menstruation and hot flushes from the secreted β-hCG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first reported case of solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura producing {b-hCG. Multiple types of lung tumors have been associated with production of β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin. Production of β-hCG by these tumors has been associated with a poor prognosis. In this case, we find an aggressive form of solitary fibrous tumor associated with production of β-hCG and associated paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to the β-hCG. Further study is required to identify the frequency of this phenomenon and the implications of β-hCG production in the prognosis of the solitary fibrous tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, USA.
authors.forename: Irfanali Rajabali
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Kugasia
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alkayem
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, Bronx, USA.
authors.forename: Jigar B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes; D011379:Prognosis; D054363:Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human