Primary ovarian adenosarcoma with elevated Ca-125 levels and normal ascitic fluid cytology: a case report and review of literature.

A 38-year-old multiparous woman presented with history of abdominal distension and pain for almost 3 weeks. She had undergone hysterectomy 8 months previously for abnormal uterine bleeding. Following abdominal paracentesis for massive ascites, a mobile mass was palpated measuring about 12 × 10 × 6 cm. Upper abdominal fullness was noted. Her haemogram, serum biochemistry, serum antibodies for HIV and HBsAg were negative with normal chest X-ray and cardiac evaluation. The serum CA-125 value was 142 U/ml. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed multiple heterogeneously enhancing soft tissue masses within omentum, mesentry, perihepatic regions, and the pelvis. The ovaries were not seen separately. There was moderate ascites suggestive of malignant ovarian lesion with metastasis ( Figures 1 and 2 ). Peritoneal fluid cytology was non-contributory. During laparotomy, 1 L of ascites was drained, a huge, vascular omental cake with multiple nodular deposits were seen ( Figure 3 ). The right ovary measured 16 × 15 × 11 cm and was nodular and irregular with capsular breach ( Figure 4 ). Metastatic deposits were seen on the mesentry, peritoneum, descending colon and bladder ( Figure 5 ). On the table, frozen section of omentum showed short spindle cells with scanty hyalinized stroma with possibility of malignant stromal tumour of uterine or ovarian origin with metastasis to omentum was opined. Therefore, a complete tumour debulking, total omentectomy, left salphingo-oophorectomy, bilateral pelvic node dissection, peritonectomy, appendicectomy, excision of deposits on the bladder, bowel mesentry were performed to achieve optimal tumour load reduction. The post-operative period was uneventful. Histopathologic examination of the ovarian neoplasm and the peritoneal deposists revealed adenosarcoma of ovary ( Figure 6 ). The IHC revealed neoplastic spindle cells which were positive for CD10 and negative for inhibin, C-kit, Calretiniun, SMA, S100, and Mic2, and the epithelium was positive for CK7 and EMA ( Figures 7 and 8 ). She was allotted Stage IIIC. She received five cycles of ifosamide with mesna and adriamycin every third week. She is on follow-up for more than 12 months, and there is no clinical, radiological, or biochemical evidence of recurrence.

Extrauterine Müllerian adenosarcomas are rare tumours. They can arise from the ovary, fallopian tubes, round ligament, pouch of Douglas, vagina, bladder, colon, and even peritoneum [ 2 , 7 , 9 , 11 ]. The World Health Organization defines adenosarcoma as a biphasic tumour characterized by the proliferation of Müllerian epithelium of benign appearance or occasionally labelled atypical when absorbed in or covering a predominant sarcomatous stroma [ 12 ]. The present case has many clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic implications. First, the adenosarcoma was arising from a previously normal ovary, which was salvaged for hormonal functions just 8 months earlier. These extrauterine Müllerian adenosarcomas occur at a younger age than their uterine counterparts and have more aggressive clinical behaviour because of invasion to adjacent pelvic organs at the time of diagnosis. Similar observations have been confirmed by many authors [ 4 , 7 , 9 ]. Second, homologous (pure) adenosarcomas arising from the ovary without associated endometriosis in either of the ovaries is very rare. Majority of the case reported have been associated with past, present, or concurrent evidence of endometriosis. The exact association is not clear in the literature as shared by many authors [ 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]. Third, ascitic fluid cytology may not be contributory, a frozen section may reveal the presence of malignant stromal tumour which needs further categorization and hence the importance of histopathology to delineate the benign and the malignant component of the tumour and immunohistochemistry to categorise the sarcomatous stromal component around which revolves the adjuvant therapy, prognosis and survival of the patients [ 10 , 11 ]. To date, there is only one report of ascitic fluid cytology which could speculate neoplasm in an ovarian adenosarcoma [ 5 ]. Fourth, a raised CA-125 level being uncommon in adenosarcoma has been observed by authors as depicted in Table 1 . The clinical implication of elevated CA-125 was first reported by Recinos et al [ 8 ] in an early stage disease. The present case was an advanced stage disease associated with elevated CA125 levels. She had optimal cytoreduction followed by 5 cycles of ifosamide with mesna and adriamycin every three weeks. Post-operative serum CA-125 level was 10 U/l. Serial serum CA-125 was used as a biochemical marker for follow-up. Associated fallacies of ascitic fluid cytology, frozen section and absence of endometriosis are reported for the first time in English medical literature ( Table 1 ). She is on follow-up and there is no clinical, biochemical, or radiological evidence of recurrence for more than 12 months.

Multimodality treatment comprising optimal cytoreductive surgery followed by adjuvant ifosamide (mesna) and adriamycin-based chemotherapy may be an option for the treatment of these aggressive tumours. Follow-up with serial CA-125 values in advanced stage adenosarcoma of the ovary is a novel observation which needs to be researched.

Mullerian adenosarcoma is very rare. In 1974, Clement and Scully described uterine adenosarcomas for the first time [ 1 ], since then there have been 60 cases of ovarian adenosarcomas described in the literature [ 2 – 10 ], and only four cases of ovarian adenosarcoma with elevated levels of CA-125 have been reported [ 3 – 5 , 8 ]. Most of the cases reported have associated endometriosis or an adenosarcoma arising from an endometriotic area, but the direct relation between this tumour and endometriosis has not been made clear in the literature [ 7 , 10 ]. The present case was pure or homologous adenosarcoma of the ovary without associated endometriosis and an elevated CA-125 level. Adenosarcomas contain benign Müllerian type glands and generally low-grade sarcomatous stroma that resembles stromal sarcoma [ 9 ]. The recommended treatment of adenosarcoma is optimal cytoreduction followed by adjuvant therapy for high-grade sarcomatous component if present [ 4 , 7 ]. Various treatment options ranging from oral progesterone [ 8 ], fertility sparing surgery to optimal cytoreductive surgery [ 4 , 7 ], post-operative radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy [ 2 ] have been described in the literature.