Increased Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Level in a Nonsexually Active Young Female.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative and qualitative human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) tests are obtained in the emergency department (ED) to determine if a female of child-bearing age is pregnant. A positive hCG result is commonly assumed to indicate an intrauterine or other form of pregnancy. However, elevated hCG levels can also result from various other conditions, such as ovarian tumors, pituitary tumors, and thyroid disorders. Intracranial germ cell tumors, rare central nervous system tumors capable of secreting hCG, primarily affect adolescent and young adult females. CASE REPORT: A 16-year-old female student without significant past medical history presented to our ED with a complaint of intermittent bilateral frontal headache for two days. Last menstrual period started two days prior to presentation. The headache was associated with phonophobia, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. Serum quantitative hCG was elevated. She denied history of sexual activity or sexual assault. Transabdominal ultrasound was negative for intrauterine pregnancy. Obstetrics and gynecology as well as pediatric oncology were consulted. Subsequent investigations, including brain imaging, revealed a 3.5 cm mass in the right caudate nucleus and corpus callosum. The patient was diagnosed with an intracranial nongerminomatous germ cell tumor, necessitating hospitalization and prompt initiation of chemotherapy. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: An elevated quantitative hCG is not always indicative of pregnancy, especially in a young patient without sexual history. In the case of a nonrevealing transabdominal ultrasound, obstetrics and gynecology should be consulted for discussion of further testing and imaging. Emergency physicians should include malignancy high on their differential since prompt initiation of chemotherapy, evaluation by surgical services, and family planning will be required.

Venous Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in a Young Student.

BACKGROUND: Venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS) results from compression and thrombosis of the axillosubclavian vein. In primary effort thrombosis, a subtype of VTOS, chronic repetitive compression injury of the axillosubclavian vein leads to scarring, stenosis, and eventually, thrombosis. This is a rare manifestation of an upper extremity deep vein thrombosis. CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old male student without significant past medical history presented to our Emergency Department with a complaint of intermittent swelling and discoloration of his upper right arm. His symptoms had been present for the past year and had worsened over the past few weeks. Swelling was associated with overhead use of the arm. There is no family history of clotting disorders. A computed tomography angiogram of the chest with upper extremity runoff showed findings consistent with VTOS. The patient was discharged with an urgent referral to Vascular Surgery. Within 2 weeks, he underwent multiple surgical procedures and was initiated on anticoagulation. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: VTOS usually presents in patients who do not have commonly recognized prothrombotic risk factors. Emergency physicians should include this diagnosis in their differential because good functional outcomes rely on early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment. In addition, emergency physicians must refer these patients to vascular surgeons, as most will require surgical management.