RETURNYonago Acta medica 1991;34:275-286
Serous Surface Papillary Carcinoma of the Ovary: An Autopsy Case
Hironobu Adachi, Tsukasa Morimura, Tokichi Yumoto and Riichiro Ishiko*
First Department of Pathology and *First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, Japan
We describe a case of serous surface papillary carcinoma (SSPC) of the ovary in a 52-year-old Japanese female. This carcinoma is histologically identical to ordinary ovarian serous adenocarcinoma and is difficult to differentiate from malignant mesothelioma because of its similar pattern of development and histological appearance. However, SSPC should be differentiated from ordinary ovarian serous carcinoma by its poor prognosis, and the fact that there is no solid or cystic tumor within the ovary except for a slight invasion into the parenchyma. Histochemical findings showed substances within the glandular lumen and intracytoplasmic vacuoles positive to periodic acid-Schiff reaction, alcian blue stain, mucicarmine stain and colloidal iron stain; however these substances had not been digested by diastase and hyarulonidase, which suggested the existence of both neutral and acidic mucin. Immunohistochemical examinations revealed markedly positive staining for anti-epithelial membrane antigen, anti-cytokeratin (monoclonal antiboy, PKK 1 and CAM 5.2) and weak positive staining for anti-CA 125; however, no positive reaction was noticed for anti-carcinoembryonic antigen, anti-vimentin and KM 277. These findings indicate that SSPC can be differentiated from ordinary ovarian serous carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma.
Key words: immunohistochemistry; serous surface papillary carcinoma; ovarium