Immunohistochemical detection of parathyroid hormone-related protein in a squamous cell carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma causing humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Squamous cell carcinoma transformation in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

0.17-2% of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary (MCTO) undergo malignant transformation, of which 80% are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) transformation in MCTO. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of SCC transformation in MCTO METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed database and individual patient data about SCC transformation in MCTO were extracted. The published cases were combined with 6 cases of SCC transformation in MCTO from Qilu Hospital, Shandong University.

RESULTS

The incidence of SCC transformation in MCTO was 0.3%. A total of 435 cases of SCC transformation in MCTO were enrolled in the analysis. The mean age of diagnosis was 53.5 (range 19-87) years old. The most common clinical manifestations were abdominal pain (47.3%) and abdominal mass (26.0%). StageI,II, III and IV accounted for 50.0, 18.8, 26.8 and 4.4% of all cases, respectively. Patients with stage I had significantly better prognosis than stage II, III and IV patients (P < 0.01). Hysterectomy can improve overall survival (P < 0.01). For patients younger than 45 years old with stageIA orIC, there was no difference in mortality between fertility-sparing and radical surgery (P = 1.00). Adjuvant chemotherapy can improve survival in patients with advanced stage (P = 0.02), and chemotherapy with platinum was related to better prognosis (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

SCC transformation in MCTO is a rare malignancy mainly occurs in older age. FIGO stage is an independent prognostic factor. Hysterectomy and platinum-based chemotherapy are associated with better survival. Fertility-sparing surgery is feasible for young patients with early stage.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: A challenging question for gynecologic oncologists

Mature cystic teratomas of the ovary have an incidence of 1.2-14.2 cases per 100.000 people per year. Malignant transformation occurs in approximately 2% of the cases, and usually consists of squamous cell carcinoma. The preoperative detection is difficult and the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography is debated. The diagnosis is frequently made in the operating room or on final histological examination. Standard treatment consists of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, total hysterectomy and comprehensive surgical staging in early disease and optimal cytoreductive surgery in advanced disease. Paclitaxel/carboplatin- based chemotherapy is the most used adjuvant treatment, whereas more aggressive regimens can be adopted in patients with high tumor burden or recurrent disease. The efficacy of radiotherapy is still unproven. The prognosis is poor when the tumor has spread beyond the ovary. There are few information to provide commonly accepted guidelines for this malignancy.

Prognosis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma from a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is rare and only reported sporadically. Clinical information on the disease is limited. This study assesses the clinical characteristics, treatment, outcome and prognostic factors of reported cases.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty cases from 1976 through to 2005 in MEDLINE were analyzed for patient age, clinical and laboratory data, extent of disease, tumor markers, treatment and survival rates. Only the 188 cases with surgical staging were included in the survival analysis.

RESULTS

The disease occurred most often in elderly women (mean, 55.0 +/- 14.4 years) and cysts were large (mean, 13.7 +/- 5.7 cm). Abdominal pain (71.6%) was the most common symptom. Preoperative serum SCC antigen level had a high positive rate (81.3%). Overall 5-year survival rate for all stages was 48.4%. For Stage I, the 5-year survival rate was 75.7%; stage II, 33.8%; stage III, 20.6%; and stage IV, 0% (p < 0.0001). Univariate analysis revealed that tumor stage, patient age, tumor size, preoperative SCC antigen and CA125 levels, and optimal debulking were significant prognostic factors. Further investigation into treatments for all stages revealed that postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy may produce a better survival rate for both stage III and stage IV cases. However, postoperative radiotherapy did not show a similar effect. Multivariate analysis indicated that stage and optimal debulking were significant factors that influenced survival.

CONCLUSION

A mature cystic teratoma should be treated as early as possible. Tumor stage and optimal debulking are critical to survival. Unlike SCCs of the uterine cervix, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy may produce a better result than adjuvant radiotherapy for advanced-stage cases.

Squamous-cell carcinoma in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: systematic review and analysis of published data

Up to a quarter of ovarian masses originate from germ cells, and many of these are mature cystic teratomas. The secondary development of malignancy is a rare but well-known phenomenon in patients with ovarian teratomas. Squamous-cell carcinoma accounts for 80% of secondary malignant transformations of ovarian teratomas. We aimed to do an up-to-date systematic review of this rare malignant transformation. 64 suitable studies provided information on 277 patients. Squamous-cell carcinoma in mature cystic teratoma was mainly found in women aged more than 50 years, with high concentrations of squamous-cell-carcinoma antigen and cancer antigen CA125, and with ovarian tumours more than 100 mm in size. Patients with FIGO stage Ia tumours had better survival than those with more advanced disease. Complete resection together with hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymphadenectomy for patients with advanced disease, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with an alkylating drug was associated with higher survival, radiotherapy was not. We make proposals for investigation and treatment of this rare disorder.

Persistent and moderate hypercalcemia related to an ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma: Pre- and postoperative parathyroid hormone related-peptide and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of PTH-related peptide (PTH-rP) and 1,25-dihyhydroxyvitamin D3 in a case of hypercalcemia related to an ovarian adenocarcinoma.

DESIGN

We report a case of humoral hypercalcemia in a patient aged 74 yr with a clear cell adenocarcinoma of the right ovary at an early stage of its development (stage T1aN0M0) revealed by moderate and persistent hypercalcemia (variable level between 2.7 and 3.2 mmol/l without any treatment) over six months.

METHODS

PTH-rP and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were measured in blood samples taken before and after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy and in blood samples taken intraoperatively from the right ovarian vein and a peripheral vein.

RESULTS

High levels of plasma PTH-rP and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concomitant with high serum calcium and low PTH levels were found before surgery, which was followed by normalisation of all parameters studied. A concentration gradient was found regarding plasma PTHrP (right ovarian vein 60.4 pmol/l, peripheral vein 4.5 pmol/l), not 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

CONCLUSION

1) moderate and persistent hypercalcemia can be observed at an early stage of an ovarian carcinoma; 2) the gradient of PTH-rP concentration between the samples taken from the right ovarian vein and a peripheral vein provides evidence for a direct secretion of PTH-rP by the ovarian tumor; 3) the increased 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 level is not related to a direct ovarian production, but is a consequence of PTH-rP secretion.

Primary Ovarian Lymphoma Manifesting with Severe Hypercalcemia

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of primary ovarian lymphoma manifesting with severe hypercalcemia.

METHODS

We report the occurrence of a substantially increased serum calcium level in a 74-year-old female patient who presented with progressive weakness, volume depletion, confusion, slurred speech, cardiac abnormalities, and renal insufficiency. The patient's clinical course is reviewed, and the results of laboratory and imaging studies leading to the underlying diagnosis are presented.

RESULTS

Initial evaluation revealed hemodynamic instability, disorientation, cardiac rhythm abnormalities, high levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, and a serum calcium level of 18 mg/dL. A cranial computed tomographic scan showed no evidence of pronounced atrophy or stroke. Aggressive rehydration was initiated, and a permanent pacemaker was inserted. A suppressed level of parathyroid hormone and a high serum 1,25-dihy-droxyvitamin D concentration were found, but no evidence of granulomatous disease, infection, or overt malignant lesion was detected. The patient showed clinical improvement and was dismissed from the hospital, but the hypercalcemic state recurred soon thereafter. A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a pelvic mass, which was diagnosed as ovarian lymphoma after surgical removal. The serum calcium and 1,25-dihy-droxyvitamin D levels normalized postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary ovarian lymphoma can be a cause of, and can manifest solely as, a severe and symptomatic increase in the serum calcium level, which is mediated by an increased serum concentration of 1,25-dihy-droxyvitamin D. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained nonparathyroid hypercalcemia.