OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics,diagnosis and treatment of isolated ovarian relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL).

METHODSA 16-year-old girl presented with complaints of bone and joint pain. The peripheral blood and bone marrow(BM) smears showed 32% and 72% blasts, respectively, which were myeloperoxidase-negative. The blasts were positive for HLA-DR, TdT, CD10, CD19, CD22 and cCD79a and negative for CD34, CD5, CD7, CD13, CD33, CD56 and MPO detected by flow cytometry. BM cytogenetic analysis and fusion gene screening revealed t(1;19)(q23;p13) and E2A/PBX1. She was diagnosed as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and was treated with CALGB8811 protocol. She presented lower abdominal pain with intermittent colick at 7 months after complete remission. The pelvic ultrasound showed a lobulated mixed echogenic mass in the right ovary, and an exploratory laparotomy was performed.

RESULTSPathologic examination and immunohistochemistry of resected ovarian tumor revealed extensive infiltration by lymphoblasts with positive for TdT, CD20, CD43 and CD79a. Further investigations failed to reveal any other extramedullary involvement. Hemogram, peripheral blood and bone marrow smear examination were unremarkable at the same time. The isolated extramedullary ovarian relapse of ALL was confirmed. Simultaneous, the detection of minimal residual disease by multiparametric flow cytometry showed positive with 5.0×10. The reinduction chemotherapy including a high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine was given to the patients. She experienced the second ovarian relapse after 1 year and refused further treatment.

CONCLUSIONAlthough uncommon, ovarian recurrence after chemotherapy for ALL should be considered in the patients with suggestive symptoms. Screening by pelvic ultrasonography may be valuble for early detection of pelvic disease in ALL.