Inadequate secretion of β-human chorionic gonadotropin in lung cancer

Introduction. - The inadequate secretion of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) during non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rare and quite ignored. The dosage of beta-HCG is probably not systematically realized in women who are in age of pregnancy and who need chemotherapy (CT) despite the descriptions of cases of prescription of CT against lung cancer in women who were pregnant. The incidence of NSCLC cancer is increasing and the risk to prescribe a CT in a woman who is pregnant is also increasing. Cases reports. - We describe the cases of two women and one man who had an augmentation of the beta-HCG plasmatic level before the prescription of CT against lung cancer. In women, the differential diagnostic between inadequate secretion of beta-HCG and pregnancy has been a problem. Conclusion. - The inadequate secretion of beta-HCG during NSCLC is probably not so rare. The dosage of this hormone before each infusion of CT should be systematic to avoid the realization of CT during pregnancy. This raises the question of the method for differential diagnostic between pregnancy and inadequate secretion of beta-HCG in young women who suffer from NSCLC, especially when a small level of beta-HCG is measured. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.