Ectopic production of human chorionic gonadotropin: a case report.

The ectopic production of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is described in a patient with an anaplastic carcinoma. After chemotherapy the marker decreased in a logarithmic fashion to undetectable levels but the neoplasm progressed and the patient died. The specificity of the beta-subunit of hCG is discussed. Discordance of the marker and clinical disease is pointed out, and several possible explanations are outlined. The lack of specificity of the beta-subunit of hCG and the discordance that it may exhibit means that its use in diagnosing and following disease progression may be limited.