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An algorithm is presented to help doctors understand the causes of a false-positive human chorionic gonadotropin blood test. A false-positive test means the test tells the doctor you have a specific disease or medical condition when you are actually healthy. Human chorionic gonadotropin is the blood test used to detect pregnancy.

A pregnant woman's blood level of beta human chorionic gonadotropin can be used to estimate the age of the fetus. This can be used to confirm the age of the fetus if the woman wants an abortion.

Women at risk for premature labor and delivery may have higher concentrations of the hormone beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) found in cervico-vaginal secretions. Researchers found increased levels above 50 mIU/mL of beta-hCG correlated with premature labor and delivery in 24 of 77 pregnant women. Given the high concentrations of beta-hCG in amniotic fluid, it is possible that the hormone leaks across the fetal membranes and causes the onset of preterm labor.

A case is described of a non-pregnant woman who was producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone is normally only produced during pregnancy but can also be secreted by some tumors. The 41-year-old woman was found to have low blood levels of hCG when she was evaluated for infertility. Various diagnostic tests ruled out cancer and her physicians discovered that the hormone was being produced by her pituitary gland. The significance of this finding is not known but it may be a benign phenomenon.

Measuring the beta-core fragment of human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine of pregnant women and using ultrasound scans to detect fetal abnormalities appears to be an accurate way of detecting Down syndrome. When researchers used this screening protocol on 511 pregnant women who had amniocentesis. Amniocentesis revealed that 3.5% of the women had a fetus with Down syndrome. When the non-invasive screening protocol was applied before the results of amniocentesis were known, it correctly detected 78% of the cases with a 4% false-positive rate. This protocol may be favored by women who do not want to have amniocentesis.

Traditional models for evaluating Down's syndrome risk appear to be adequate but can be improved. Blood tests for beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein from 348 women carrying Down's syndrome infants and 58,297 women carrying normal infants were statistically analyzed using traditional and proposed methods. Statistical variance improved when distribution calculations were used to counteract the effects of deviant results. Calculated risk using this proposed model was 1 in 113 compared to 1 in 251 using the traditional method.

The use of ultrasound examination and maternal blood levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may accurately detect triploidy between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. Triploidy is a fatal condition where three sets of chromosomes are found in each cell rather than two sets. Researchers performed ultrasound examinations on 58,862 pregnant women and identified 18 fetuses with triploidy, a rate of 1 in 3,270. Maternal hCG levels were available for 13 of the triploid pregnancies, and 11 triploid pregnancies involved high hCG levels. Triploid fetuses also had higher than normal heart rates.

A second-trimester test for elevated levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) may identify women prone to develop hypertension during pregnancy but may not be accurate enough to identify women at risk for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy involving hypertension and defects in development of the placenta. Researchers analyzed the results of second-trimester beta-hCG levels and later development of hypertension or preeclampsia in 6286 nondiabetic women. Women who had previously given birth to more than one child and who had elevated beta-hCG levels had a much higher risk of developing hypertension and preeclampsia.

Adjusting the multiple-marker screening test for prior births may increase the test's ability to identify fetuses at risk for having Down syndrome. Women who have had prior children normally have lower circulating levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, one of the substances measured in the multiple-marker screening test. In a group of 3,039 tests of which 56 fetuses were eventually found to have Down syndrome, adjusting for prior children increased the test's Down syndrome detection rate from 71% to 82%.

Maternal blood levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may help predict which pregnant women are at risk for developing preeclampsia. At 15 weeks gestation, researchers measured hCG levels in 5,776 women, of whom 234 had pregnancy-induced hypertension, 238 gave birth to small-for-gestational-age infants, and 34 developed preeclampsia. HCG levels were elevated in women in the second two categories. Depending on the cut-off value, 10% of the population would be considered 'at risk' for preeclampsia and 30% of impending preeclampsia cases would be detected or half would be at risk and all impending cases would be detected.

Testing for levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in the first trimester of pregnancy may be as accurate as second trimester tests to detect Down syndrome. Researchers analyzed blood samples taken from mothers in the first trimester from 22 Down syndrome and 483 normal pregnancies for levels of free beta-hCG and PAPP-A. Fifteen of the 22 Down syndrome cases were identified in the first trimester using these tests, a rate of 68.2% with a 5% false-positive rate. This rate of detection may be at least as sensitive as second trimester tests for Down syndrome. Detection rates were adjusted for the 11 Down syndrome cases involving mothers 35 years and older. Testing the mother's blood for alpha-fetoprotein in the first trimester may not produce accurate results.

A blood screening test for the levels of three hormones in the second trimester of pregnancy may be more accurate than a modified test in detecting Down syndrome in fetuses. The triple-marker blood screening test measures the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated estriol, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The modified test measured AFP and free beta-hCG on the speculation that free beta-hCG may be a better indicator of Down syndrome. Researchers compared the accuracy of the blood tests in 2349 nonblack women, taking maternal age into account. The test using AFP and free beta-hCG was found to detect fewer fetuses with Down syndrome while testing more women as being positive for the risk. hCG level may be the best predictor of Down syndrome of all the markers.

Blood levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in pregnant women may vary according to women's weight and volume of distribution. An abnormally high level of hCG may indicate a fetus with Down syndrome. Researchers reviewed two genetics databases for cases of women with high hCG levels. Women who weighed over 180 pounds and who were 30 years or older were more likely to have falsely low screen positive rates for hCG levels as compared to women of the same age range weighing less than 180. A weight correction formula effectively distributed the positive screening findings more evenly by age and weight group. The weight correction formula did not change the detection rate of Down syndrome but may prevent underestimation of Down syndrome risk in older pregnant women.

Active renin and prorenin concentration in the placental villi appears to decline markedly from early to late pregnancy. These compounds are part of a system that modulates blood vessel growth and proliferation and that has local influences on hormone secretion. Placental villi were obtained from placentas from first trimester abortions and from placentas at term birth. Amounts of prorenin and active renin were measured by radioimmunoassay as were amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Prorenin was found in villous tissue in amounts nearly 200-times higher in the first trimester than at birth. The proportion of active renin to prorenin was also higher in the first trimester. HCG is known to stimulate prorenin synthesis in the ovary. Because hCG follows this same pattern within the villi, it is speculated that it may play a similar role there.

Higher levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone secreted by the placenta, may be related to severe preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine and retention of fluid. Thirty-two women with preeclampsia (12 with severe) were matched to 32 women with no symptoms of preeclampsia and with normal blood pressure. HCG blood levels were significantly higher in the group with severe preeclampsia, but not in the women with mild preeclampsia. HCG is secreted by the growth layer of the placenta, which is known to grow abnormally fast with preeclampsia. This growth may be an attempt to compensate for the placental damage caused by the disease. Differences between severe and mild preeclampsia may represent two stages of the same disease or different diseases.

Abstract Objective--To determine the relation between maternal serum [alpha] fetoprotein and free [beta] human chorionic gonadotrophin concentrations in pregnancies complicated by trisomy 18 and establish whether prenatal biochemical screening for […]

The results of different pregnancy test kits may vary during the early stages of pregnancy. These kits measure urinary or blood levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and related substances. A study measured the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and related substances in 242 blood samples and 125 urine samples from pregnant women using different laboratory, office and home pregnancy test kits. Average levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and related substances were similar two weeks after the missed menstrual period. Individual measurements varied significantly between different test kits for both blood and urine samples.

A normal human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regression curve was constructed for use in identifying patients with persistent trophoblastic disease. Trophoblastic disease refers to a group of placental disorders including hydatidiform mole and cancer of the chorion. Following the evacuation of a hydatidiform mole, hCG levels are monitored for signs of persistent trophoblastic disease. A steady rise or plateau in the regression curve of hCG is generally taken as sign that chemotherapy should be initiated. However, there is no commonly accepted definition of how long it takes for hCG levels to normalize following a molar pregnancy. An hCG regression curve was constructed from data obtained in the 25 weeks following removal of hydatidiform mole in 130 women. hCG levels from 77 women who had persistent trophoblastic disease were then compared to the normal regression curve. In 71 (92%) of the women, hCG levels differed significantly from those of the normal regression curve.

Measuring the concentration of free alpha-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the mother's blood does not appear to be useful in the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Free beta-subunit hCG concentrations are significantly elevated in Down syndrome pregnancies but findings on free alpha-hCG are inconclusive. Levels of free alpha-hCG were measured in 36 pregnant women whose fetuses were previously diagnosed with Down syndrome and in 180 women with normal pregnancies. Maternal concentrations of free alpha-hCG measured in the second trimester did not vary significantly with gestational age. However, free alpha-hCG concentrations were only slightly higher among women with Down syndrome pregnancies than among women with normal pregnancies.

A retrospective review was done on all high volume choriocarcinomas and other germ cell tumors of men with serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) levels greater than 50,000 mIU/ml to determine the incidence and characteristics of hyperthyroidism in this setting. Nineteen patients were identified with high beta-HCG levels, but because 2 did not have thyroid function tests performed, the cases of only 17 patients were evaluable. Of these, 14 (82%) had primariy testicular carcinoma and 3 (18%) had extragonadal tumors. Beta-HCG levels on presentation ranged from 80,000 to 3,058,000 mIU/ml, with a median of 243,500 mIU/ml. Seven of the 17 evaluable cases (41%) had [T.sub.4] serum levels higher than 12 [Mu] g/dl (normal level 4 to 12 [Mu] g/dl) with a median value of 15.4 [Mu] g/dl (range, 12.6 to 33.5 [Mu] g/dl); serum [T.sub.4] levels correlated with beta-HCG levels (r = 0.84). All seven patients with elevated [T.sub.4] levels had beta-HCG values greater than 200,000 mIU/ml, and three of these seven had clinical manifestations that could be attributed to an elevated serum [T.sub.4]; only one patient required specific antithyroid treatment; and after control of primary disease, all other patients had normalization of thyroid function. The most common manifestations of hyperthyroidism in our series were tachycardia, hypertension, and a systolic flow murmur; none of the patients had thyroid gland enlargement. We conclude that subclinical hyperthyroidism is a relatively common phenomenon in germ cell tumors of men with high levels of beta-HCG and that control of the primary disease results in serum [T.sub.4] level normalization. Cancer 1992; 69:1286-1290.

Bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or other problems, such as a failed pregnancy, that might require removal of the embryo. Ultrasonography (US), an imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves, and measurements of levels of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (B-HCG) are thought to be useful for determining the viability of the embryo. This study reports two cases of pregnancies complicated by early bleeding where the tests of viability were not reliable and could have led to adverse outcomes. In the first case, a 28-year-old woman was examined after having had no period for 6 weeks, 5 days. She was not using contraception, and had experienced a brief episode of vaginal bleeding one month after her last period. The initial B-HCG indicated that she was pregnant, but two weeks later when she complained of pelvic pain, US and B-HCG test results indicated the presence of an abnormal pregnancy. An abortion was planned, but because the patient was stable and the clinician was unsure of the test results, it was delayed. A later US examination revealed a viable pregnancy, and the patient eventually delivered a healthy baby. In the second case, a 35-year-old woman who had not had a period for 6 weeks, 3 days, and had miscarried recently, was seen for pregnancy testing. Slight vaginal bleeding was noted upon examination. Initial US and B-HCG tests indicated an abnormal pregnancy, but repeat tests a few weeks later revealed a viable pregnancy. These two cases illustrate the danger in relying on US examination and B-HCG measurements to determine the viability of a pregnancy in its early stages. In both cases, early results indicated problem pregnancies that were later shown to be viable. Reliance on these tests could lead to unnecessary termination. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.), First-trimester bleeding demands that an expedient diagnosis be made if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected. In addition, rapid determination of a failed pregnancy or blighted ovum is often sought to [...]

Pregnant women who are 35 years old or older are normally screened for fetal Down syndrome and other aneuploidy (chromosomal abnormalities). More recently, maternal blood levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) have been considered, as well as age, as a risk factor for chromosomal disorders; however, these factors yield a detection rate of under 40 percent. Other studies have found an association between high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone made by the implanted embryo and detected by pregnancy tests, and Down syndrome. Because this association has not been rigorously studied, data on these and other factors were collected from 3,428 pregnancies that were being screened for other defects. Of these, 255 pregnancies did not have normal outcomes, ranging from fetal death or distress to prematurity, twins, aneuploidy, and other abnormal outcomes. Of these 255 cases, 58 women did not have elevated hCG levels and 26 women did not have elevated AFP levels. Elevations in hCG levels, determined as multiples of the average level, when adjusted for weight, were higher in blacks and Orientals than in whites. Weight-adjusted average hCG levels for twin pregnancies with normal outcomes were also higher. Six of 11 pregnancies with aneuploidy had higher hCG levels, including four of six with Down syndrome. Of white women with normal outcomes, 10 percent had hCG levels more than double the average. Levels of hCG did not correlate with maternal age. The study indicates that adjustment of hCG levels for race and weight is important before they can be used to assess risk of Down syndrome. Further study to establish baseline levels is needed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Down syndrome is a congenital disorder characterized by moderate to severe mental retardation, and distinct physical features including a sloping forehead, small ear canals, wide-set eyes, short broad hands with a single crease in the palm, a flat or absent nose bridge, low-set ears, and a dwarf-like build. This disorder can be diagnosed prenatally, or before birth, by measurement of maternal blood levels of estriol, alphafetoprotein (AFP), and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in the second trimester, or second three months of pregnancy. AFP levels in twin pregnancies are twice those in singleton, or single fetus pregnancies. Estriol and hCG levels may also be elevated in twin pregnancies. The blood levels of estriol, hCG, and AFP were measured in 200 women with twin pregnancies and 600 women with singleton pregnancies. The blood levels of estriol, hCG, and AFP in twin pregnancies were 1.67, 1.84, and 2.13 times those of singleton pregnancies. These findings confirm results of previous studies showing AFP levels in twin pregnancies to be double those of singleton pregnancies. The risk of Down's syndrome in twin pregnancies can be estimated by adjusting values of estriol, hCG, and AFP to corresponding values in singleton pregnancies. However, the rate of detection of Down syndrome in twin pregnancies may be less than that of singleton pregnancies, because an unaffected twin will tend to normalize the elevated values of these factors. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Introduction Young women often attend their general practitioner or a family planning or well woman clinic because of abnormal vaginal bleeding. Pain should alert the doctor to a complication of [...]

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a protein hormone made by the placenta. Its presence in blood is frequently measured by pregnancy tests. Like many proteins, hCG is made of two subunit proteins, and most of the hCG in blood is present as the combined subunits, alpha and beta. However, a small fraction of free beta is also present, and preliminary results have suggested that levels of free beta may differ in pregnancies in which the fetus has Down syndrome. The effectiveness of an assay to measure beta hCG as a screening tool for Down syndrome was studied. Blood levels of free beta hCg in blood samples of 29 cases of Down syndrome and 450 healthy cases were measured in the second trimester, between 14 and 18 weeks. Levels of beta hCG were, on average, approximately two-fold higher in cases of Down syndrome. Eighty-three percent of Down syndrome cases exceeded the average level of beta protein in healthy subjects. Detection of Down syndrome was best, 80 percent, when results from beta hCG measurement were considered with measurement in maternal blood of a protein made by the fetus, alpha-fetoprotein. In addition, this combination also produced only five percent falsely positive predictions of the presence of Down syndrome. The study suggests that measurement of beta hCG provides an efficient and effective test for predicting the presence of Down syndrome in a pregnancy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

A spontaneous, incomplete or missed abortion is treated with uterine curettage, a procedure that involves scraping the inside of the uterus to remove residual tissue. Uterine curettage is performed to prevent bleeding, infection and the formation of scar tissue inside the uterus. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that can be detected in the mother's blood early in pregnancy. The beta subunit hCG (beta-hCG) test can confirm an impending spontaneous abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. The presence of residual trophoblastic tissue (the products of conception) in the uterus as it corresponds to the level of hCG was studied in 174 patients experiencing a first trimester abortion. Only 22 (12.6 percent) of the patients with hCG levels of less than 500 international units (IU) had residual trophoblastic tissue obtained by curettage. The presence of trophoblastic tissue was associated with an hCG level between 20 IU and 500 IU, visualization by ultrasound, active bleeding and high gestational age (duration of pregnancy). To predict the presence of residual trophoblastic tissue, a mathematical formula and a clinical scoring system were devised. The scoring system correctly identified 90.9 percent of the patients with residual tissue and 75.6 percent of the patients without residual tissue, and had a false-positive rate of 2.2 percent. When the scoring system was applied to the patients experiencing an abortion, curettage could have been avoided in 60.5 percent of the patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Maternal blood profiles appear to be similar in women carrying fetuses with Down's syndrome caused by either of two genetic conditions. One condition involves an extra copy of chromosome 21 called trisomy 21 or a shift of a chromosomal segment to the 21st chromosome called a Robertsonian translocation. Blood levels of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol were measured in 11 women carrying fetuses with a Robertsonian translocation. These values were compared with published levels for women carrying fetuses with trisomy 21. Both groups had similar values.

The concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood may drop by at least 48% within 24 hours of having a complete abortion. Researchers analyzed blood levels of hCG in 86 pregnant women the day they received injections of misoprostol to chemically induce abortions and the day after. Eighty-three women had complete abortions, and these corresponded with decreases in blood levels of hCG of at least 48%. Two of the three women who had incomplete abortions showed little decrease of hCG in their blood. Decreases of 48% or more of hCG may confirm complete abortion in cases where ultrasound cannot confirm it. Failure of hCG to decrease after surgical abortion or miscarriage may indicate either incomplete abortion or ectopic pregnancy.

Nicked free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin may be at least as sensitive at detecting Down syndrome in fetuses as currently used tests. Researchers analyzed blood samples from six Down syndrome pregnancies and from 64 with normal chromosomes for levels of free beta-subunits with 'nicks' in protein linkages of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Levels of nicked free beta-subunit of hCG were much higher in Down syndrome than in normal pregnancies. Nicked free beta-subunit levels were two to three times higher than all free beta-subunits, suggesting that nicked free beta-subunits may be a better indicator of Down syndrome than either hCG or free beta-hCG. Tests for nicked free beta-subunit of hCG in blood may be better than tests of beta-core-hCG in urine if blood is carefully collected and stored.

Background. Although testicular cancer and Hodgkin disease are the neoplasms with the highest incidence in young men, only 13 cases of metachronous and 2 cases of synchronous occurrence in the same person were reported before 1991. Methods. A 30-year-old man is described, in whom, 2 years after radiation therapy for Stage IIIA Hodgkin disease, a testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor developed with metastatic spread to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, lung, and left supraclavicular fossa. The second case report describes a 31-year-old man in whom a metastasizing nonseminomatous testicular cancer, with elevation of levels of the serum tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin, developed simultaneously with axillary lymphadenopathy that was histologically confirmed Hodgkin disease. Results. After five cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and secondary retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, the patient with metachronous disease has remained in complete remission for 8 years. The patient with synchronous occurrence has been disease-free for 14 months after five cycles of chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, etoposide, and doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH). Conclusions. The metachronous and synchronous occurrence of testicular cancer and Hodgkin disease is a rare association of two curable neoplasms. The presence of both malignant neoplasms should be taken into consideration in young male patients, especially if disease distribution diverges from a regular pattern. Cancer 1993; 71:2838-40.

Introduction Trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome) is the commonest human chromosomal abnormality, occurring in about one in 700 babies. [1] Down's syndrome can be detected during pregnancy by determining the karyotype [...]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Each of three second-trimester maternal serum markers appears to be a promising predictor of preeclampsia, Dr. David Aitken reported during a poster session at the annual meeting [...]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Each of three second-trimester maternal serum markers appears to be a promising predictor of preeclampsia, Dr. David Aitken reported during a poster session at the annual meeting [...]

THE ISSUE OF THE FALSE-POSITIVE HUMAN CHORIONIC gonadotropin (hCG), or the so-called 'phantom hCG,' has received increasing media and scientific attention and scrutiny over the past several months. The Society [...]

Down's syndrome is a condition marked by mental retardation and other physical malformations caused by a defect in a chromosome, the genetic material in the nucleus of cells. The incidence of Down's syndrome is higher in babies born to women over age 35. Prenatal diagnosis performed because of increased maternal age detects 20 percent of fetuses with Down's syndrome. Many Down's syndrome children are born to younger mothers who do not have prenatal screening. Some studies have associated higher levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the blood of the mother with increased risk for trisomy 21, Down's syndrome. In addition, a high level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has indicated an abnormal chromosome in 68 percent of cases. Researchers compared the results of a simple enzyme test for hCG beta subunit, performed on blood samples obtained from mothers of 38 Down's syndrome pregnancies and 114 normal pregnancies. Normal blood values of beta subunit hCG were not affected by age, race or weight but decreased each week from 15 to 19 weeks gestation. After the values were adjusted for gestational age, 63 percent of the fetuses with Down's syndrome were detected using this method. When the results of hCG and AFP were combined, the rate of correct diagnosis was 68.3 percent, and there was a decrease in the rate of false positive results from 14.8 percent to 5 percent (incorrectly reporting Down's syndrome). The AFP and beta subunit hCG tests appear promising as alternatives to the more invasive methods of prenatal diagnosis of Down's syndrome. The efficiency of the test methods is currently being improved.

Ectopic pregnancies, in which the fertilized egg is implanted outside of the uterus, are life-threatening. Diagnosis is made using serial measurements of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, which is elevated in pregnancy, and ultrasound, the use of high frequency sound waves to visualize internal structures. Transvaginal ultrasound is a new diagnostic tool that uses a small probe into the vagina. In 145 women suspected of having ectopic pregnancy, traditional abdominal ultrasound revealed 38 ectopic pregnancies. The remaining 107 patients had further evaluation with transvaginal ultrasound. Of these, transvaginal ultrasound definitely ruled out 56 ectopic pregnancies and diagnosed another 39. Fetal heart beats were detected in the fallopian tubes of 23 percent of the patients, and in two thirds of the women, unruptured tubal pregnancies were found. The use of high frequency transvaginal probes improves the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and has application in early diagnosis of unruptured tubal pregnancies already indicated by hormone blood levels.

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been gradually rising, accounting for almost 2% of all pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancy has become a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.[1] Accurate and [...]

When a pregnancy implants, it produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which supports the early pregnancy. Elevated beta hCG levels can be detected a few days after implantation with a specific [...]

Cystic papillary neoplasm of the pancreas is a usually curable, rare tumor that almost always occurs in young women. Because this tumor does not cause abnormal function of the pancreas, it often reaches a large size before it is diagnosed. A case is presented of a 19-year-old woman who complained of intermittent abdominal pain. She had a positive pregnancy test (elevated serum human chorionic gonadotrophin, or HCG level), and ultrasound revealed a cystic mass in the right upper abdomen. The patient was believed to have an ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo is located outside the uterus). During surgery, she was found to have a mass in the pancreas, which was biopsied. There was no tumor invasion or evidence of liver metastasis (spread) on either angiography or computed tomography. The patient then underwent surgery for removal of the tumor. Her pregnancy test continued to be positive and ultrasound examination at that time revealed a seven-week intrauterine pregnancy. The final pathology report on the tumor was characteristic of cystic papillary neoplasm. The patient underwent an abortion and is doing well one year after surgery with no recurrence of tumor. Cystic papillary tumor should be considered a possible diagnosis when pancreatic tumors occur in women of childbearing age. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

SAN ANTONIO -- Serial [beta]-HCG levels rose at a minimum of only 50% every 2 days in a study of 293 viable first-trimester pregnancies, contradicting the widely held belief that [...]