ECTOPIC PRODUCTION OF HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN BY POORLY DIFFERENTIATED TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE RENAL PELVIS

Abstract

Herein we reort a case of ectopic production of hCG by poorly differentiated transitional cell tumor of the renal pelvis. The patient was a 55-year-old male who had been diagnosed at another hospital as having giant hydronephrosis and renal stones and was reffered to our hospital. The plain abdominal CT showed a low-density mass at the lower pole of the right kidney. His serum hCG level was as high as 120mIU/ml. Transperitoneal nephrectomy was performed on July 7, 1987. Histopathological examinations showed the presence of squamous metaplasia within a high-grade transitional cell carcinoma, and immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of chorionic gonadotropin in some giant cells. Two courses of combination chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblasting, adriamycin and cisplatin (M-VAC regimen) were given to him from the third week after the operation. However, he died of debility with distant metastasis 6 months after the operation. As far as we know, this is the third reported case in Japan.