Ovarian carcinoma in an adolescent with transgenerational exposure to diethylstilbestrol.
Small cell carcinoma of the ovary is rare in adolescence. The etiology of such tumors is unknown. Several reports suggest that transgenerational exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) may have deleterious effects on the genitourinary tract. The authors describe a 15-year-old girl with small cell carcinoma of the ovary whose maternal grandmother had been taking DES while she was pregnant with the patient's mother. This case, while anecdotal, suggests that a transgenerational history of DES exposure should be noted, and that granddaughters with persistent abdominal pain even during childhood may need evaluation for genital tract abnormalities.
Blatt
Julie
J
Department of Pediatrics, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7220, USA. jblat@med.unc.edu
Van Le
Linda
L
Weiner
Timothy
T
Sailer
Scott
S
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D002273:Carcinogens; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol