Positive result of human chorionic gonadotropin. Diagnostic considerations

: Positive serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) in reproductive-age women generally indicates a pregnancy in healthy women. Nevertheless, this result can also be associated to other different etiologies that every gynecologist must know. A case report of a 41-year-old woman who had an elevated beta-HCG serum level without pregnancy is presented, which turned out to be the first sign of lung cancer.