Embryonal carcinoma with falsely positive elevation of serum alpha-fetoprotein after curative therapy: a case report

An elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein is an important serum and cell marker in nonseminomatous testicular cancer. While the sensitivity of an elevated alpha-fetoprotein is 20 to 70 per cent, depending upon clinical stage subgrouping, the specificity is 100 per cent, since no falsely positive elevation of alpha-fetoprotein has been reported. We report a case of persistent falsely positive elevation of alpha-fetoprotein after curative therapy of embryonal carcinoma.