Ovarian metastasis originating from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: a rare presentation of lung cancer

Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2003 Aug;33(8):404-7. doi: 10.1093/jjco/hyg078.

Abstract

Ovarian metastasis originating from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) has not been reported previously. We report a 63-year-old Chinese woman who was diagnosed as BAC with pleural metastasis in 1997. Four years later, she complained of vaginal bleeding, and a pelvic mass was discovered by an abdominal computerized tomography scan. Tumor debulking and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy were performed. Pathology disclosed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, with abundant clear cytoplasm, in the ovaries. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells from the ovary and pleura were reactive to thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and cytokeratin-7 (CK-7) but were negative for cytokeratin-20 (CK-20). The results of immunohistochemical staining, clinical course, and pathological features were compatible with the diagnosis of BAC with ovarian metastasis. In conclusion, to investigate the primary site of a metastatic ovarian cancer, clinicians should not forget the lungs since the incidence of lung cancer in females is increasing. Moreover, a monoclonal antibody panel for TTF-1, CK-7, and CK-20 may facilitate discrimination between primary and metastasized ovarian adenocarcinomas and/or identifying tumors of pulmonary origin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / surgery
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Fallopian Tubes / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins / analysis
  • Keratin-20
  • Keratin-7
  • Keratins / analysis
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery
  • Ovariectomy*
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Intermediate Filament Proteins
  • KRT20 protein, human
  • KRT7 protein, human
  • Keratin-20
  • Keratin-7
  • NKX2-1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
  • Transcription Factors
  • Keratins