Introduction: Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) belongs to the glycoprotein hormone family and is usually used to exclude pregnancy in patients. It comprises two subunits (α and β polypeptide chains) joined by noncovalent bonds. HCG is a specific marker for trophoblastic tumours of the placenta and gestational tumours. Ectopic secretion of β-HCG by other tumours is rare. Lung cancer with beta-HCG production is rare, and only a few case reports have been published in the literature.
Case history: We reported a case of 40 years old male who presented with a history of cough, chest pain, abdominal pain and superior vena cava syndrome. On CT, chest mediastinal mass, right-sided pleural effusion and right lung collapse were noted. A biopsy was taken from the lesion. Biopsy was processed accordingly, and IHC was performed, and a final diagnosis of small cell carcinoma lung with a beta-HCG expression on IHC was made.
Discussion and conclusion: Based on reports in the medical literature, beta-HCG expressing lung tumours are very rare. No case reports on beta HCG expressing small cell carcinoma of the lung could be found by us in the reported literature. We reported an extremely rare case of beta-HCG expressing small cell carcinoma lung using IHC in a 40 years old male patient.
Key words: Beta-HCG, IHC, Small cell carcinoma, Lung
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