A rare case of bilateral small cell carcinoma of the ovary diagnosed during pregnancy

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma of the ovary (SCCO) is a highly aggressive malignancy that affects young females. The disease is fatal in nearly all patients with disease categorized as higher than stage IA. A 30-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed, while pregnant, as having bilateral small cell carcinoma, pulmonary type, a rare finding. She received three courses of JP chemotherapy (carboplatin, 525 mg; cisplatin, 120 mg) and three courses of PVP chemotherapy (peplomycin, 30 mg; vinblastin, 12 mg; cisplatin, 120 mg). Computed tomography scans were taken during and after the period in which she received chemotherapy showed growing multiple metastatic tumors and massive ascites. Third-line chemotherapy with paclitaxel (225 mg) was then initiated. Although the lymphadenopathy and massive ascites were alleviated, bone marrow suppression intervened. The patient died 18 months after being diagnosed. To our knowledge, this is third reported case of SCCO to be diagnosed during pregnancy, and the first reported case of bilateral disease diagnosed during pregnancy.