Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2013 Jan;56(1):41-44. 10.5468/OGS.2013.56.1.41.

Hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary without staining for alpha-fetoprotein

• Sung JH
• Kim TH
• Park HG
• Kim MJ
• Kim BG
• Kim TJ
• Bae DS

• KMID: 1857185
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/OGS.2013.56.1.41

Abstract

Primary hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary (HCO) is a rare type of ovarian tumor that resembles hepatocellular carcinoma both histologically and immunohistochemically in its staining for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). We describe a 51-year-old woman who presented to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan revealed a large tumor in the pelvis. She underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with tumorectomy. A right ovarian mass measuring 9x8x6 cm was found. Histological diagnosis was hepatoid carcinoma of the right ovary. But, immunohistochemically, tumor cells were not immunoreactive for AFP and there was no elevation of serum AFP level. This is the first report of an ovarian carcinoma with typical histologic features of HCO with negative staining for AFP and normal level of serum AFP in the world.

Keyword

Hepatoid carcinoma; Ovary; Alpha-fetoprotein

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
alpha-Fetoproteins
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Female
Humans
Hysterectomy
Negative Staining
Ovary
Pelvis
alpha-Fetoproteins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed 12.5×7.8×11.2 cm sized large heterogeneous pelvic mass invading sigmoid colon and uterus.

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  Fig. 2 The tumor was composed of solid sheets or aggregates of uniform cells with moredate or abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, distinct cell borders, and centrally located nuclei with prominent nucleoli (H&E, ×200).

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  Fig. 3 Immunohistochemistry for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The tumor cells are not immunoreactive for AFP (immunostain for AFP, ×200).

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  Fig. 4 Immunohistochemistry for hepatocyte paraffin-1. The tumor cells are not immunoreactive for hepatocyte paraffin-1 and gonadal dysgenesis was not seen (immunostain for hepatocyte paraffin-1, ×200).

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