Animalscaretips
- What is hCG in cancer?
- What is the purpose of hCG?
- What does hCG mean in medical terms?
- Does the ER test for pregnancy?
- What cancers cause high hCG?
- What tumors produce hCG?
What is hCG in cancer?
Measuring the amount of beta-hCG in the blood or urine of cancer patients may help to diagnose cancer and find out how well cancer treatment is working. Beta-hCG is a type of tumor marker. Also called beta-human chorionic gonadotropin.
What is the purpose of hCG?
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced primarily by syncytiotrophoblastic cells of the placenta during pregnancy. The hormone stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. Smaller amounts of hCG are also produced in the pituitary gland, the liver, and the colon.
What does hCG mean in medical terms?
A quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test measures the specific level of HCG in the blood. HCG is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy.
Does the ER test for pregnancy?
The principle use of HCG testing in an emergency setting is the early diagnosis of pregnancy (HCG < 5mIU/mL excludes pregnancy). As a recently published case-study report highlights, it is also useful for diagnosis of some pregnancy-related disorders including hydatidiform mole (molar pregnancy).
What cancers cause high hCG?
Takeaway. Ovarian and testicular cancer can dramatically increase hCG levels. Other cancer types, such as breast and lung cancer, may also increase hCG blood levels.
What tumors produce hCG?
Among nonreproductive tumors, hepatobiliary tumors (hepatoblastomas, hepatocellular carcinomas, and cholangiocarcinomas) and neuroendocrine tumors (eg, islet cell tumors and carcinoids) are those most commonly associated with hCG production.
