False elevation of human chorionic gonadotropin in a patient with testicular cancer Journal Article
| Authors: | Gallagher, D. J.; Riches, J.; Bajorin, D. F. |
| Article Title: | False elevation of human chorionic gonadotropin in a patient with testicular cancer |
| Abstract: | Background. A 44-year-old, HIV-positive man presented with a painless swelling of his left testicle. He underwent left radical orchiectomy for a pathological stage T1 nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT). A persistently elevated postoperative human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level resulted in the patient being diagnosed as having low-risk, stage 1S disseminated NSGCT. He was treated with four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy, but his hCG level had not returned to normal at the end of the treatment. Postchemotherapy CT showed no evidence of metastatic disease.Investigations. Measurement of serum levels of tumor markers, including α-fetoprotein, hCG and lactate dehydrogenase, scrotal ultrasonography, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, CT of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis, assessment of kidney function, and measurement of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels.Diagnosis. Falsely elevated serum hCG level caused by heterophile antibody interference in the hCG immunoassay. Management. The patient's postchemotherapy serum samples were reanalyzed using a heterophile antibody blocking agent, the results of which showed no detectable hCG. No salvage therapy was required, and the patient remains in complete remission. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. |
| Keywords: | adult; treatment response; case report; postoperative period; cisplatin; antineoplastic agents; cancer staging; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; computer assisted tomography; multiple cycle treatment; etoposide; tumor markers, biological; cancer regression; blood sampling; blood analysis; echography; testicular neoplasms; surgical drainage; lactate dehydrogenase; immunoassay; orchiectomy; staphylococcus aureus; testis cancer; cotrimoxazole; false positive result; false positive reactions; scrotal swelling; human immunodeficiency virus 1; alpha fetoprotein; chorionic gonadotropin; follitropin; hormone determination; heterophile antibody; luteinizing hormone; testosterone cipionate; human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection; suppurative hidradenitis; antibodies, heterophile |
| Journal Title: | Nature Reviews Urology |
| Volume: | 7 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| ISSN: | 1759-4812 |
| Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
| Date Published: | 2010-04-01 |
| Start Page: | 230 |
| End Page: | 233 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1038/nrurol.2010.10 |
| PUBMED: | 20383188 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "Source: Scopus" |
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