Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.48188/hczz.3.2.3
Diagnostic significance of human chorionic gonadotropin as a tumor marker
Admir Dilberović
orcid.org/0009-0009-7364-7490
; Dubrovnik General Hospital, Dubrovnik, Croatia
*
Ana Stanić
; Dubrovnik General Hospital, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Mirela Zec
; University Hospital of Split, Split, Croatia; University Department of Health Studies of the University of Split, Split, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the method for measuring the concentration of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) and the diagnostic significance of βhCG in the blood of patients with testicular cancer. Methods: The study included 10 male patients with a confirmed diagnosis of testicular cancer and 10 patients without a diagnosis of testicular cancer who served as the control group. The measured concentration values were collected from the archive, and the research method used was a retrospective descriptive analysis. Concentrations were measured from serum using the immunochemical analyser. Results: Verification of the measurement device was conducted using commercial serums to confirm the reliability of the analysis method. The accuracy, precision, and overall error of the method were demonstrated, meeting national quality control criteria and manufacturer specifications. Patients diagnosed with testicular cancer initially had elevated concentrations of βhCG (>0,1 IU/L). One month after the surgical intervention, a follow-up measurement was conducted, during which all patients recorded a decrease in βhCG concentrations below the lower limit of the method’s sensitivity (<0.1 IU/L). The concentration of βhCG in all patients without a diagnosis of testicular cancer remained below the lower limit of the method’s sensitivity. Conclusion: Verification of the method for determining βhCG showed satisfactory results for its application in diagnostics. Based on the conducted research and obtained results, βhCG has been confirmed as a reliable tumour marker in the diagnosis and monitoring of testicular cancer. These findings suggest that this test is suitable for implementing screening in all patients presenting with testicular pain, as well as in the healthy population. Early diagnosis of testicular cancer significantly contributes to even more favourable treatment outcomes for this disease.
Keywords
βhCG; testicular cancer; tumor marker
Hrčak ID:
312105
URI
Publication date:
16.12.2023.
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