Utility of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in pleural effusions: Report of an autopsy case of a male patient with primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma

Kazuhiko Iwasaki; Kazuyoshi Watanabe; Hideharu Kimura; Seiji Yano

doi:10.1002/ccr3.6663

Utility of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in pleural effusions: Report of an autopsy case of a male patient with primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma

Clin Case Rep. 2022 Dec 5;10(12):e6663. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.6663. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Kazuhiko Iwasaki^{1

2}, Kazuyoshi Watanabe¹, Hideharu Kimura², Seiji Yano²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory medicine Japan Community Health Care Organization Kanazawa Hospital Kanazawa Japan.
² Department of Respiratory medicine Kanazawa Graduate school of Medical Sciences Kanazawa Japan.

Abstract

A 69-year-old male patient presented with bloody pleural fluid effusion and elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels obtained by thoracentesis. The patient's condition rapidly deteriorated, and he died. The autopsy revealed primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma. Early diagnosis of choriocarcinoma based on β-hCG levels in the pleural fluid may be possible.

Keywords: bloody pleural fluid effusion; choriocarcinoma; β‐Human chorionic gonadotropin.

Publication types

Case Reports