title: Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma with aberrant expression of serum β-HCG: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) represent a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies frequently presenting at advanced stage of diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of PTCL with an uncommon and aggressive onset with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laboratory findings revealed an aberrant expression of β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG). Other than for determination of pregnancy, β-HCG is regularly found as a tumor marker in germ cell tumors with trophoblastic differentiation and its aberrant expression has been reported in the literature in other neoplastic conditions only in the context of case reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In hematologic malignancies, β-HCG expression has been described only in sporadic cases. Awareness of this feature could avoid diagnostic delay in such an aggressive disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Internal Medicine 3, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellodi
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rivoli
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Internal Medicine 3, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arboscello
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fornarini
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio Fraternali
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Orcioni
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Avenoso
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miglino
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Internal Medicine 3, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto di Ricerca a Carattere Clinico e Scientifico (IRCCS), Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria (AOU) San Martino, Istituto Nazionale Tumori (IST), Genoa - Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D003561:Cytarabine; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003907:Dexamethasone