SMALL-CELL NEUROENDOCRINE CARCINOMA OF THE OVARY

A 64-year-old woman (gravida 0, para 0) had a unilateral ovarian mass measuring 14 cm in its greatest diameter, which was mostly solid, Micr oscopically, the tumour was characterized by two predominant prolifera ting patterns: a carcinoid-like pattern with trabecular, tubular, glan dular, or insular arrangements and a closely packed nesting pattern wi th central coagulation necrosis and occasional glandular arrangements. These two patterns were intermingled, and numerous mitotic figures we re present. Electron microscopy showed neurosecretory granules in the cells, which were argyrophilic and positive for neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin, leu 7, neuron-specific enolase, and synaptophysin). Th e tumour was aneuploid by flow cytometry. The patient received chemoth erapy postoperatively, developed brain and multiple bone metastases an d died of disease 10 months after surgery. This tumour must be disting uished from other small cell neoplasms, especially ovarian small cell carcinoma of the hypercalcaemic type.