Primary ovarian small cell carcinoma of pulmonary type with enlarged paraaortic lymph node masses: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction: Small cell carcinoma of the ovary of pulmonary type, is a rare, aggressive tumour with poor prognosis and its optimal management is unclear. Case presentation: A 55-year-old Caucasian woman presented with abdominal discomfort and left lumbar pain within a three-week period. At exploratory laparotomy, a 8 cm solid cystic mass of the left ovary was found infiltrating the sigmoid colon, and a bulky mass (11 x 7 x 4 cm) in the left paraaortic infrarenal region. Histopathological features resembling small cell carcinoma of the lungs and positive immunohistochemical stains provided a definite diagnosis of IIIC ovarian small cell carcinoma of pulmonary type. After six cycles chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide, the patient is still alive at 21 months from initial diagnosis. Discussion: In this case, the absence of peritoneal involvement and the extensive paraaortic adenopathy is suggestive of a different pattern of spread of this rare tumour. Optimal treatment seems to be radical primary debulking surgery resulting in no residual disease, maximizing the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy for this biological aggressive tumour.

Ovarian small cell carcinoma pulmonary type; Debulking surgery

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