Even in the infertility clinic, it is important to be aware of the possible presence of malignant tumors of the female genital tract.
We report two cases of ovarian cancer found in women with a child-bearing desire. Case 1 is in a 40-year-old woman who visited our hospital with a complaint of infertility for the past 15 years. Pelvic examination and transvaginal ultrasonography revealed no abnormal findings in the uterus or either ovary, but vaginal smear was class IV. Hysteroscopy and endometrial curettage disclosed no malignant findings, but, repeated transvaginal ultrasonography for three months detected an ovarian mass with ascites, and cul -de-sac aspiration cytology was positive. Exploratory laparotomy revealed stage III c ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma with metastases in the uterus, omentum, and rectal wall. Case 2 is in a 31-year-old housewife who consulted us with infertility for 6 months after her marriage. Pelvic examination and transvaginal ultrasonography revealed no abnormal findings, but subsequent ultrasonography revealed a cystic lesion in the left ovary. Then she became pregnant but had a miscarriage. After the abortion, an ovarian mass with ascites was demonstrated by ultrasonography, and a cul-de-sac aspiration cytology was positive. Laparotomy revealed a stage Ic ovarian serous tumor of borderline malignancy. Repeated transvaginal ultrasonography with cul-de-sac aspiration cytology is useful to detect ovarian cancer in women with infertility. [Adv Obstet Gynecol 47 (3); 379-387, 1995 (H7.5)]
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