An unexpected reason for elevated human chorionic gonadotropin in a young woman Cervical squamous carcinoma

Authors

• Aynur Mustafa, From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Mustafa, Tepe, Ozcan), and the Department of Pathology (Bozdag), Medical School, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
• Zehra Bozdağ, From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Mustafa, Tepe, Ozcan), and the Department of Pathology (Bozdag), Medical School, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
• Neslihan B. Tepe, From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Mustafa, Tepe, Ozcan), and the Department of Pathology (Bozdag), Medical School, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
• Huseyin C. Ozcan, From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Mustafa, Tepe, Ozcan), and the Department of Pathology (Bozdag), Medical School, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey

Abstract

Human chorionic gonadotropin has been used for decades, in addition to specific investigations, to detect pregnancy, trophoblastic tumors, as well as congenital defects. Rarely, it can be elevated in non-trophoblastic tumors such as squamous cell cancers and germ cell tumors. A 33-year-old Asian Syrian female had irregular menses accompanied with feelings of heaviness in the vagina. In addition to routine investigations, we measured the serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-HCG) level (based on the patient’s complaint of amenorrhea), which was 50.05 ml UI/ml. Cervical biopsy revealed a non-keratinized large cell squamous carcinoma. After excluding other causes, ß-hCG elevation was explained by the ectopic secretion of cancer cells line. Cervical biopsy was suggestive of large cell non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma and positive for human chorionic gonadotropin on immunohistochemistry. As a result, we manage the possibility of ectopic secretion of ß-HCG from non- trophoblastic disease.

Article Type

Case Report

First Page

905

Last Page

907

Recommended Citation

Mustafa, Aynur; Bozdağ, Zehra; Tepe, Neslihan B.; and Ozcan, Huseyin C. (2016) "An unexpected reason for elevated human chorionic gonadotropin in a young woman Cervical squamous carcinoma," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 37: Iss. 8, Article 15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2016.8.14529