An Unexpected Pregnancy Test Result Leading to the Diagnosis of Advanced Gastric Cancer

Jordonna Brown¹, Odeth Barrett-Campbell¹, Yakira David¹, Carol Luhrs² and Samy I. McFarlane^1,

¹Division of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA

²Division of Hematology and Oncology, Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY 11209, USA

Cite this paper:
Jordonna Brown, Odeth Barrett-Campbell, Yakira David, Carol Luhrs and Samy I. McFarlane. An Unexpected Pregnancy Test Result Leading to the Diagnosis of Advanced Gastric Cancer. American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2019; 7(7):148-150. doi: 10.12691/ajmcr-7-7-8

Abstract

The presence of beta human chorionic gonadotropin in the absence of pregnancy warrants further work-up as elevated levels may be seen in trophoblastic disease or germ cell tumors and rarely in solid tumors such as gastric cancers. The signs and symptoms of gastric cancer are vague and as such, the diagnosis is often delayed. Overexpression of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin may be seen in close to 50% of gastric cancers. The implication of this finding is unclear; however, beta human chorionic gonadotropin reactivity may play a role in tumorigenesis and often correlates with an advanced stage at presentation. Herein, we present a case report of a patient with an incidental finding of a positive urinary human chorionic gonadotropin test which led to the diagnosis of advanced gastric cancer.

Keywords:
gastric cancer tumor markers βHCG non-pregnant

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