Synchronous primary neoplasms of the uterine corpus and the ovary: a case report

Objective: To determine the frequency of synchronous primary neoplasia of the ovaries in patients with primary malignant neoplasia of the uterus, and to analyze the clinical and histological characteristics of these cases.

Materials and methods: Clinicopathological data from a series of patients treated for primary malignant neoplasia of the uterus between 1985 and November 2003 have been studied retrospectively.

Results: Synchronous primary neoplasia of the ovaries was found in 13 out of 173 patients (7.5%) treated for primary malignant neoplasia of the uterus. In four patients (2.3%) the histological findings suggested ovarian metastases from primary endometrial adenocarcinoma. In four other cases (2.3%) there was extension of the primary uterine sarcoma to the ovaries. In the remaining five cases (2.9%) primary endometrial adenocarcinoma coexisted with: a) ovarian cystadenocarcinoma in two cases, b) ovarian fibromathecoma in two cases, and c) ovarian tumor of borderline malignancy in one case.

Conclusions: Coexistence of distinct primary neoplasias in the uterus and ovaries is rare. Diagnosis of two primary malignancies in the uterus and ovaries should be based on histological examination. Treatment should be appropriate for both tumors, taking into consideration that treatment of one tumor will not lead to subtreatment of the other.

Synchronous primary neoplasia; Uterus; Ovaries; Diagnosis; Treatment

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