Ovarian Cancer That Was Initially Diagnosed as Malignant Pleural Effusion of Unknown Primary Origin
10.2185/jrm.4.41
- Author:
Toshihiko Fukuoka
;
Eisuke Matsuoka
;
Sahoko Chiba
;
Satoshi Takayama
;
Satoshi Ohno
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Ovarian Cancer;
Pleural Effusion, Malignant;
Pleural Effusion;
Unknown;
Beginning
- From:Journal of Rural Medicine
2008;4(1):41-44
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
We report a case of adenocarcinoma detected in the right pleural effusion of a 75-year-old woman. Investigations failed to reveal the site of the primary lesion, and the case was treated as primary unknown cancer. The pleural effusion disappeared after chemotherapy; however, as there was serious bone marrow suppression, the clinical course was observed at an outpatient clinic without chemotherapy. A search for the primary lesion was repeated, but it was not found. One year after first admission, a chest X-ray showed left pleural effusion. Adenocarcinoma was detected in the effusion and a tumor mass obtained from the pleural cavity. Ovarian cancer was diagnosed based on the histological, serological and MRI findings. Thus, this was a rare case of ovarian cancer in which the diagnosis was confirmed by repeated evaluation and in which the initial diagnosis had been primary unknown cancer with malignant pleural effusion only.
