Choriocarcinoma with markedly elevated serum hCG levels and negative urine hCG levels.

摘要

Choriocarcinoma is a rare bur potentially curable cancer that arises from tissues of placental origin, with an incidence of 1 in 2,000 pregnancies. There is usually an antecedent pregnancy, which may be a partial or complete hydatidiform mole, or even an apparently normal pregnancy. Because it is a tumour of trophoblastic tissue, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is produced in very high quantities and is therefore an excellent marker for diagnosis and monitoring the response to treatment. The level of hCG usually correlates witii the bulk of the tumour.Choriocarcinoma shows an excellent response to chemotherapy and early detection improves outcome. Treatment in the UK is centralised in three designated Specialist Centres in Sheffield, London and Dundee.We present a case of choriocarcinoma with metastasis to the lungs where urine hCG testing was eidier negative or faintly positive.