Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma with aberrant expression of serum β-HCG: a case report

Tumori. 2015 Nov 14;101(6):e160-2. doi: 10.5301/tj.5000373.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / blood*
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / etiology*
  • Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / pathology
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Liver Neoplasms / blood
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / blood
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / complications
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / drug therapy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / etiology
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Splenic Neoplasms / blood
  • Splenic Neoplasms / complications
  • Splenic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Splenic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Cytarabine
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Dexamethasone