Primary carcinoid tumor of the ovary: Report of an unusual case

Carcinoid tumors are endocrine malignancies that are often associated with a characteristic syndrome, the malignant carcinoid syndrome, which is most common in patients with small bowel tumors and liver metastases. In the rar e instances when the syndrome is present without liver metastases the prima ry tumor is usually localized to the bronchus or ovary and secretes hormone s directly into the systemic circulation. About two thirds of patients with carcinoid syndrome have evidence of carcinoid heart disease. We report on a case of a primary ovarian carcinoid tumor with an unusual cl inical presentation.