Postmenopausal uterine bleeding due to estrogen production by gonadotropin-secreting lung tumors

Am J Med. 1992 Mar;92(3):327-30. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(92)90084-o.

Abstract

Two postmenopausal women are described who had uterine bleeding due to hormone production by lung tumors--a large cell carcinoma in one case and a choriocarcinoma in the other. Both tumors stained positively for one or more placental peptides (human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG], placental lactogen, or pregnancy-specific beta-1 glycoprotein) and both patients had extremely elevated serum levels of hCG, suggesting the tumors had some placental-like endocrine function. Clinical and hormonal data supported the concept that the uterine bleeding resulted from estrogen excess due to steroid bio-transformation by the tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Choriocarcinoma / complications*
  • Choriocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Choriocarcinoma / pathology
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / blood
  • Dilatation and Curettage
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Estrogens / biosynthesis
  • Estrogens / blood*
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Menopause*
  • Middle Aged
  • Progesterone / biosynthesis
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / etiology*

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Estrogens
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone