Ovarian cancer associated with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening condition. The primary therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this condition is up-front primary cytoreductive surgery, with placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter prior to surgery to prevent fatal pulmonary embolism. The present study describes the case of a 49-year-old female, who presented with DVT unresponsive to anticoagulant therapy in the lower extremities prior to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. During the search for the underlying malignancy, transvaginal sonography (TVS) revealed a cystic solid mass in the pelvic cavity. Subsequently, the patient underwent up-front primary cytoreductive surgery without placement of a preoperative IVC filter, followed by six cycles of chemotherapy. The patient was diagnosed with ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma stage IIIC, complicated by DVT, and had survived >3 years without relapse at the time of completion of the present study. The successful outcome of the present case demonstrated that occult primary cancer should be suspected in patients with DVT unresponsive to anticoagulant therapy. The present study also indicated that up-front primary cytoreductive surgery without placement of an IVC filter represents an effective potential strategy for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer associated with DVT, as the thrombus strongly adheres to the vessel wall following organization.
Keywords: deep venous thrombosis; inferior vena cava filter; ovarian cancer; up-front primary cytoreductive surgery.