Extragestational βHCG Secretion Due to an Isolated Lung Epithelioid Trophoblastic Tumor: Microsatellite Genotyping of Tumoral Cells Confirmed Their Placental Origin and Oriented Specific Chemotherapy

Context: Persistent secretion of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (βHCG) in the absence of an ongoing or recent pregnancy and without persistent uterine gestational disease is a rare but challenging situation that requires locating the extrauterine secreting tumor and distinguishing between extragestational choriocarcinoma and gestational trophoblastic neoplasms. Case Presentation: An unexplained, persistent extragestational βHCG secretion occurring in a 29-year-old, nonsmoking woman with abnormal uterine bleeding 4 years after a normal pregnancy and without persistent gestational disease led to the discovery by whole-body computed tomography/positron emission tomography of an isolated pulmonary tumor. Objective: Characterization of paternal alleles in tumoral cells in order to establish their fetal origin, which may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of such tumors. Methods and Results: After the surgical procedure, clinical, histological, and immunocytochemical analysis ruled out primary or metast...