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31-jähriger Patient mit Hodentumor und Hyperthyreose

31-year-old male patient with testicular mass and hyperthyroidism

Der Internist volume 50, Article number: 740 (2009) Cite this article

Zusammenfassung

Ein Exzess von β-Choriongonadotropin (β-HCG) stellt eine seltene Differenzialdiagnose der Hyperthyreose dar, aufgrund der TSH-ähnlichen Wirkung des β-HCG. Erhöhte β-HCG-Werte finden sich physiologisch in der Schwangerschaft. Bei Keimzelltumoren des Hodens und des Ovars kann es auch, abhängig vom histologischen Subtyp, zu einer pathologischen Erhöhung der β-HCG-Serumkonzentration kommen.

Wir berichten über einen 31-jährigen Patienten mit einer klinisch manifesten Hyperthyreose infolge eines β-HCG produzierenden metastasierten Keimzelltumors im rechten Hoden. Nach Einleitung einer Chemotherapie kam es parallel zur Remission des Tumors mit deutlichem Abfall des β-HCG zur Normalisierung der Schilddrüsenlaborparameter.

Abstract

An excess of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a rare differential diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, due to the TSH-like effect of hCG. hCG levels physiologically increase during pregnancy. In patients with germ cell tumors of the testicles and the ovary, a pathological increase of hCG serum concentrations may also be found, depending on the histological subtype.

We report on a 31-year-old male patient with overt clinical hyperthyroidism resulting of a hCG-producing metastasized germ cell tumor of the right testicle. After initiation of chemotherapy, thyroid function normalized in parallel to the tumor’s remission with marked decrease of hCG levels.

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Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Endokrinologie, Diabetes, Angiologie, Nephrologie und Klinische Chemie, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 10, 72076, Tübingen, Deutschland

    B. Besemer &  K. Müssig

  2. Klinik für Endokrinologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland

    K. Mann

  3. Radiologische Diagnostik, Radiologische Universitätsklinik Tübingen, Tübingen, Deutschland

    M. Horger

Authors
  1. B. Besemer
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  2. K. Mann
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  3. M. Horger
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  4. K. Müssig
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Correspondence to K. Müssig.

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Besemer, B., Mann, K., Horger, M. et al. 31-jähriger Patient mit Hodentumor und Hyperthyreose. Internist 50, 740 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-008-2281-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00108-008-2281-y

Schlüsselwörter

  • Hyperthyreose
  • Schilddrüsenfunktionsstörung
  • Keimzelltumor
  • β-Choriongonadotropin

Keywords

  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Thyroid function disorder
  • Germ cell tumor
  • Human chorionic gonadotropin