Disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with intratumoral hemorrhage of ovarian cancer

Background: Ovarian carcinoma usually presents in an indolent manner. A pat ient with ovarian cancer rarely shows acute clinical features which require immediate medical intervention. Case: We present a 36-year-old Japanese wo man with an ovarian tumor, who suffered general fatigue and increased abdom inal girth on admission. Her hemoglobin, platelet count and fibrinogen were decreased, and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products were elevated, which determined the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Since computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an i ntratumoral hemorrhage, an emergency laparotomy was performed. The patient was found to have ovarian cancer with a massive intratumoral hemorrhage, an d DIC improved immediately after the operation. Conclusion: The clinician s hould be alert to the possibility that intratumoral bleeding of ovarian can cer might be associated with DIG. Copyright((C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.