Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a gonadotropin that is physiologically (naturally) produced during pregnancy. Outside of pregnancy, an elevated HCG level is considered tumor-specific.
Tumor markers are endogenous substances that are produced by tumors and are detectable in the blood. They can provide an indication of a malignant (malignant) neoplasm and are used as a follow-up test in cancer follow-up.
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum
- Collection urine
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Normal values – blood serum
| Standard values in U/l | |
| Children | < 10 |
| Women (not pregnant!) | < 10 |
| Men | < 10 |
Normal values – urine
| Standard values in U/l | |
| Children | < 20 |
| Women (not pregnant!) | < 20 |
| Men | < 20 |
Indications
- Suspected trophoblastic tumors – tumors arising from a malformed fruit such as bladder mole or chorionic epithelioma (chorionic carcinoma).
- Suspected germ cell tumors such as testicular or ovarian carcinoma (testicular/ovarian cancer).
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Trophoblastic tumors such as bladder mole (extremely high elevation of HCG; sensitivity 100%) or chorionic epithelioma
- Testicular chorionic carcinoma [sensitivity 100 %]
- Teratocarcinoma [sensitivity circa 50%]
- Seminoma (form of testicular cancer) [sensitivity circa 15%]
- Bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer)
- Testicular carcinoma (testicular cancer)
- Colon carcinoma (colon cancer)
- Ovarian carcinoma (ovarian cancer)
- Mammary carcinoma (breast cancer)
Interpretation of decreased values
- No diagnostic significance
