Ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma producing alpha-fetoprotein: case report.
BACKGROUND
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful tumor marker for germ cell tumors of the ovary and is valuable for both diagnosis and follow-up. However, it is very rare for an epithelial ovarian carcinoma to secrete AFP.


METHODS
We report a case of a 63-year-old woman with a ovarian clear cell carcinoma with serous component of less than 10%. Both histological components were producing AFP as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. After surgery and chemotherapy, AFP decreased to normal range. The patient also had elevated CA-125 levels but the tumor was negative for CA-125 which suggested the increased CA-125 might have been due to the associated ascites.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian clear cell type carcinomas rarely secrete only AFP and it might be the single marker that could be used in follow-up.
Cetin
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haseki Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Bahat
Z
Z
Cilesiz
P
P
Cikesiz
P
P
Demirbağ
N
N
Yavuz
E
E
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins