Chondrosarcoma secreting chorionic gonadotropin: report of a case
Mack, G.R.; Robey, D.B.; Kurman, R.J.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume 59(8): 1107-1111
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9355 PMID: 591547 Document Number: 123287
A primary bone tumor is capable of synthesizing significant amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG]. To document this association, it was essential that the following criteria be met: accurate histological verification of the tumor as a chondrosarcoma without evidence of trophoblast in the neoplasm or elsewhere that might account for hormone elaboration, characterization of the hormone being synthesized as chorionic gonadotropin and identification of the tumor as the hormone source. Evidence that the tumor was the hormone source is the positive immunoperoxidase reaction in the tumor giant cells in cartilaginous differentiation areas. This reaction was absent in undifferentiated areas. Although the hormone may have been stored rather than synthesized by the tumor, no other production source was identified. The pituitary was grossly and histologically normal. A microscopic testicular tumor focus was noted, but it had the appearance of a metastasis and did not contain trophoblasts. The initially high levels of HCG in this patient were not sustained and fell significantly over the 2 mo. period during which he was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Decreasing hormone levels apparently reflected a response to treatment of the primary tumor.