2021 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 117-121
Background : In patients with ovarian cancer, cancer cells may be found in endometrial cytology samples by transfer of tumor cells through the fallopian tube. However, there are few reports of such an occurrence in cases with ovarian borderline tumors. We report a case of ovarian serous borderline tumor diagnosed by endometrial cytology and treated by laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy.
Case : A woman in her 50s was admitted to our hospital for positive endometrial cytology. Endometrial cytology revealed a few atypical cell clusters with psammoma bodies among atrophic endometrial cell clusters. Transvaginal ultrasound, CT and MRI revealed no tumor in the pelvic cavity, including the uterus and ovaries. Therefore, laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy was performed for the purpose of diagnosis. A small amount of surrounding ascites fluid was found to contain atypical cells similar to those observed on endometrial cytology. Initially, the tumor components were not observed histologically, but after extensive microscopic examination of specimen blocks, a small surface papillary lesion, approximately 1 mm in size, was identified in the right ovary, which was diagnosed as a serous borderline tumor with psammoma bodies.
Conclusion : In some cases of ovarian serous borderline malignancy, endometrial cytology may be useful for early detection of the primary focus.
