Hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary: a case report

Int J Gynecol Pathol. 1991;10(3):302-10. doi: 10.1097/00004347-199107000-00009.

Abstract

A case of a right ovarian tumor in a 64-year-old patient showing high blood levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is reported. Histologically, the tumor resembled hepatocellular carcinoma with hyaline globules. Localization of AFP was detected by the immunoperoxidase method. Electron microscopically, the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum had developed into a meshwork, and the mitochondria were present within this meshwork. Because a transition from adenocarcinoma to a region resembling hepatocellular carcinoma was observed, this tumor was considered to originate as a common epithelial carcinoma. In the blood, 67% of the AFP was bound with concanavalin A (Con A), and the fraction pattern obtained by lentil agglutinin affinity chromatography (LCA) was of the germ cell type. From these results, the current case may be labeled clinicopathologically a hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary as described by Ishikura and Scully.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / blood
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / blood
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / blood
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis

Substances

  • alpha-Fetoproteins