Advanced small-cell ovarian carcinoma, hypercalcemic type: a challenging therapeutic entity

Authors

  • Rafael Caparica Bitton Department of Clinical Oncology – Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP
  • Milena Perez Mak Department of Clinical Oncology – Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP
  • Tiago Kenji Takahashi Department of Clinical Oncology – Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP
  • Fernando Nalesso Aguiar Department of Pathology – Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP
  • Elias Abdo Department of Clinical Oncology – Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP
  • Maria Del Pilar Estevez Diz Department of Clinical Oncology – Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP

Keywords:

Ovarian Neoplasms, Carcinoma, Small Cell, Tumor Lysis Syndrome, Drug Therapy

Abstract

Small-cell ovarian carcinoma (SCOC) is a rare and aggressive neoplasia, predominantly affecting young women who are frequently first diagnosed with advanced stage disease. Platinum-based chemotherapy (ChT) can provide high response rates and rapidly ameliorate symptoms in this scenario. However, progression after chemotherapy usually occurs quickly, leading to high mortality rates. In addition, ChT complications, such as tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can also occur, jeopardizing the patient’s outcome. We present a case of metastatic SCOC in a 47-year-old patient who achieved tumor response after platinum-based chemotherapy and developed TLS, from which she recovered with supportive treatment. After the second ChT cycle, she developed febrile neutropenia and died 8 weeks after the diagnosis of SCOC. Although SCOC is a chemo-sensitive tumor, short-lived responses and frequent chemotherapy complications lead to a dismal prognosis.

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Published

2014-09-30

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3 (2014)

Section

Article / Clinical Case Report

License

Authors of articles published by Autopsy and Case Report retain the copyright of their work without restrictions, licensing it under the Creative Commons Attribution License - CC-BY, which allows articles to be re-used and re-distributed without restriction, as long as the original work is correctly cited.

How to Cite

Bitton, R. C., Mak, M. P., Takahashi, T. K., Aguiar, F. N., Abdo, E., & Diz, M. D. P. E. (2014). Advanced small-cell ovarian carcinoma, hypercalcemic type: a challenging therapeutic entity. Autopsy and Case Reports, 4(3), 47-52. https://journals.usp.br/autopsy/article/view/98477