Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38292164›Full record

ArticleOxford medical case reports2024

False-negative qualitative human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test result ('hook effect') with classical ultrasound findings of complete molar pregnancy: an uncommon case.

Daud Phillipo, Samson Lucas, Mary Peter Kalunga, Elizabeth Inyasi, Jesca Paul Lebba, Frank Martin Sudai, Jean Kalibushi Bizimana

Open access · goldAbstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Oxford medical case reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Daud PhillipoMédecins Sans Frontières Geneva, Nduta Project, Kigoma, Tanzania.
Samson LucasMédecins Sans Frontières Geneva, Nduta Project, Kigoma, Tanzania.
Mary Peter KalungaMédecins Sans Frontières Geneva, Nduta Project, Kigoma, Tanzania.
Elizabeth InyasiMédecins Sans Frontières Geneva, Nduta Project, Kigoma, Tanzania.
Jesca Paul LebbaPresident's Office, Region Authorities and Local Governments, Region Health Management Team, Kigoma, Tanzania.
Frank Martin SudaiPresident's Office, Region Authorities and Local Governments, Region Health Management Team, Kigoma, Tanzania.
Jean Kalibushi BizimanaMédecins Sans Frontières Geneva, Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Headquarter, Geneva, Berlin Medical Unit/MSF Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1773-2360
Médecins Sans Frontières · UG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

False-negative qualitative Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) result is a phenomenon in which large amounts of β-hCG are produced by molar pregnancy, oversaturating the test's assay system and leading to false-negative results known as the 'prozone phenomenon' or the 'hook effect'. This can lead to misdiagnosis and delay in management despite high suspicious clinical and ultrasound findings. We report a case of an 18-year-old female who presented to our health facility with amenorrhea of 16 weeks, lower abdominal pain, soft and large fundal height for gestational age, and cramping with slight per-vaginal bleeding, and a negative urinary pregnancy test (UPT). Based on clinical presentation, ultrasound findings and a positive UPT after urine dilution, molar pregnancy was diagnosed. Aspiration was performed under ultrasound guidance, and follow-up was done as per MSF guidelines. HCPs need to be familiar with some rare cases for which the possibility of finding false-negative UPT is likely.

Identifiers

PMID38292164
PMCPMC10823328
OpenAlexW4391325295

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.