[A case of human chorionic gonadotropin-producing bladder cancer]

An 86-year-old man consulted our hospital complaining of gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a nodular broad-based cancer at the dome of the bladder. The patient was initially treated by transurethral resection of bladder tumor. Since histological examination showed grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma containing giant cells that were positive for beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG), we made a diagnosis of beta-HCG-producing bladder cancer. Because of his advanced age and poor general condition, the patient underwent partial cystectomy alone without adjuvant chemotherapy. One month later, a chest X-ray film revealed multiple lung metastases, and he developed paraplegia of the lower extremities suggesting spinal metastases. One month later, he was brought to our hospital with cardiopulmonary arrest. This is, to our best knowledge, the 22nd case report of beta-HCG-producing bladder cancer in Japan.