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Endocrine studies in testicular tumor patients with and without gynecomastia. A report of 45 cases
Author(s) -
Stepanas Antanas V.,
Samaan Naguib A.,
Schultz Pamela N.,
Holoye Paul Y.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197801)41:1<369::aid-cncr2820410150>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - gynecomastia , galactorrhea , medicine , estrone , prolactin , human placental lactogen , human chorionic gonadotropin , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , choriocarcinoma , hormone , gonadotropin , endocrine system , estrogen , pregnancy , fetus , biology , placenta , genetics
Prolactin (PRL), human placental lactogen (hPL), the β‐subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG), testosterone (T), estrone (E 1 ), and estradiol (E 2 ) were measured in blood samples from 45 patients with testicular tumors, 27 of whom had gynecomastia at some stage of their disease. Forty‐two of the 45 patients had at least one abnormal hormone level. The most common abnormality was that of plasma estrone: it was elevated in 32 out of 42 (76%) patients in whom it was measured, suggesting a useful role for E 1 as a testicular tumor marker. Prognosis was notably worse in patients with embryonal carcinoma, teratocarcinoma, and choriocarcinoma, in those with gynecomastia and, particularly, galactorrhea. Such patients also had the highest incidence of hormonal abnormalities as well as the most extreme absolute values. Hormonal mechanisms were implicated in the development of gynecomastia and galactorrhea. Prolactin, βhCG, E 1 , and E 2 levels in all permutations correlated signficantly among patients with gynecomastia, but not among those without, while estrogen to testosterone ratios were elevated in patients with galactorrhea.