The detection of a particular hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is the premise of many over-the-counter being pregnant exams. Apparently, elevated ranges of this similar hormone can typically point out the presence of sure non-pregnancy associated situations in males. One such situation is testicular most cancers, particularly sure sorts like choriocarcinoma and a few nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, which might produce hCG.
The remark of hCG presence in males outdoors of fertility therapies prompted investigations into its potential as a tumor marker for testicular most cancers. Using a being pregnant take a look at for preliminary screening just isn’t an alternative to skilled medical analysis. It shouldn’t be used rather than established diagnostic procedures, which embody bodily examination, scrotal ultrasound, and blood exams particularly designed to detect tumor markers equivalent to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), along with hCG.