Abstract
Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) is an important tumor marker for germ cell tumors. Interestingly in some cases
with lymphoma increased beta-hCG levels were detected. The association of beta-hCG expression and mortality in those rare cases isn’t well
established. We will present a 40-year-old male who was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma with increased beta-hCG levels.
Brentuximab-Vedotin monotherapy was started. The beta-hCG level decreased tremendously after initiating of chemotherapy and remained
so in the follow up with consecutive chemotherapy cycles. After the treatment 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-
computed tomography (PET-CT) showed showed tremendous decrease in FDG uptake in comparison to previous PET-CT findings. These
findings are correlant with the beta-hCG levels before and after treatment. A brief report of the possible pathophysiological mechanism of betahCG
expression in lymphoma patients will be presented further.
Keywords:
Lymphoma, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, brentuximab, prognosis
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