RECURRENT OVARIAN TUMOR WITH LOW MALIGNANT POTENTIAL AND CARDIAC METASTASIS

Background: Up to 20% of ovarian epithelial tumors are classified as b eing of low malignant potential. Most of these low malignant potential tumors are detected at an early stage and have an excellent prognosis . This is a report of a woman with cardiac metastasis from an ovarian low malignant potential tumor. Case: This case describes a 53-year-old woman who presented with congestive heart failure and was found to ha ve a recurrent stage III ovarian tumor of low malignant potential. A t ransesophageal echocardiogram revealed compression of the inferior ven a cava and a mass encompassing the right atrium. Findings at autopsy c onfirmed a low malignant potential ovarian tumor thrombus involving th e inferior vena cava and right atrium. Conclusion: Ovarian low maligna nt potential tumors can metastasize in an aggressive manner. A transes ophageal echocardiogram may be useful when the diagnosis of cardiac tu mor thrombus is considered. (C) 1997 by The American College of Obstet ricians and Gynecologists.