CASE REPORT
Hippokratia 2014, 18(4):364-365
Vernadakis S, Moris D, Delimpalta C, Bokos J, Zavos G
Transplantation Unit, ‘Laikon’ General Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Abstract
Introduction: De novo malignancies have become one of the leading causes of late mortality after renal transplantation, with their incidence being 2-15 fold higher than in general population. We present herein a unique case of ovarian carcinosarcoma in a renal transplant recipient.
Case report: A 69-year-old female renal transplant recipient presented with progressive distension and vague abdominal pain. Clinical examination revealed a large abdominal mass. Magnetic resonance imaging scan verified the presence of the mass. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, identifying a giant tumor measuring 33 x 22 x 10 cm. Optimal debulking surgery was performed, the postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged on the 8th postoperative day. The final diagnosis was ovarian carcinosarcoma. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and at 6-month follow-up, she was disease-free.
Conclusion: Ovarian Carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive neoplasia, comprising 1-2 % of all ovarian tumors. Radical surgical approach, as well as appropriate chemotherapy are the cornerstone of treatment. In the presented case, where immunosuppression is involved, further evaluation should be made as far as immunosuppression dose reduction or switch is concerned.
Key words: Carcinosarcoma, mixed mullerian tumor, ovary, renal transplantation
Corresponding author: Demetrios Moris, MD, 56 Anastasiou Gennadiou str., 11474 Athens, Greece, tel/fax: +302106440590, e-mail: dimmoris@yahoo.com
Introduction
Carcinosarcoma of the ovaries, also known as mixed malignant müllerian tumor, is a rare and aggressive neoplasia, comprising 1-2 % of all ovarian tumors1-3. It is unique in that it contains both epithelial and sarcomatous malignant elements. It is further classified as homogenous or heterogenous, depending on whether the stromal elements are native to the ovary2. We present herein a unique case of ovarian carcinosarcoma in a renal transplant recipient.
Case presentation
A 69-year-old female presented with progressive distension and vague abdominal pain. Seven years before she underwent renal transplantation due to polycystic kidney disease, with an immunosuppresion regimen of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and corticosteroids according to our department’s protocol. Clinical examination revealed a large abdominal mass. Laboratory examinations showed substantial elevation of serum tumor markers (Ca-125=478 U/mL, Ca-199=198 U/mL, LDH=987 IU/L). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan verified the presence of a mass containing both solid and cystic elements, with heterogeneous contrast distribution and signal enhancement after administration of paramagnetic substance (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen showing a mass containing both solid and cystic elements.
Intraoperatively, a giant tumor measuring 33 x 22 x 10 cm was identified, originating from the right ovary, with no macroscopic peritoneal deposits. Optimal debulking surgery was performed (total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and omentectomy). Histologic examination revealed a high-grade epithelial malignancy interspersed with sarcomatous deposits of varying grades, further identified by immunohistochemic staining positive for vimentin, desmin and myogenin as chondrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and liposarcoma. There were also areas of serous and undifferentiated carcinoma (Figure 2). Uterus and adnexa were infiltrated, but the omentum was tumor-free. Cytological examinations of peritoneal washings were negative. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 8th postoperative day. Based on the histological findings, the final diagnosis was heterogenous carcinosarcoma of the ovary (FIGO stage IIA). Adjuvant chemotherapy regimen with cisplatin in combination with ifosfamide had been administered. Immunosuppression regimen was changed with MMF dose reduction and cyclosporine switch to m-TOR inhibitor. At a 6-month follow-up, the patient was disease-free with slightly declined renal function (creatinine 1.8 from 1.43 mg/dl before the change in immunosuppression regimen).
Figure 2: Histologic examination revealing (magnification x 20): a) epithelial element [Hematoxylin & Eosin (HA)], b) sarcomatous element (HA), c) chondrosarcoma (HA), d) liposarcoma (HA). Immunohistochemic staining is positive for e) desmin stain, f) vimentin stain and g) myogenin stain.
Discussion
De novo malignancies have become one of the leading causes of late mortality with increasing numbers of long-term survivors after renal transplantation. Due to the rarity of these tumors, there have been no targeted studies in patients with ovarian carcinosarcoma, and most data is derived from trials about uterine sarcomas and ovarian epithelial tumors2.
Incidence of malignancy at renal transplant recipients reaches 5-15%, being 2-15 fold higher than in general population4. Non-melanoma skin tumor and lymphoproliferative disorders are the commonest malignancies. Ovarian tumors are rare, approximately 4% of all tumor in renal transplant recipients5. The increased incidence of malignancy at renal transplant recipients is attributed to the immunosuppression therapy and the decreased immunological surveillance to lymphoproliferative and oncogenic viruses6. Incidence increases with years of immunosuppression and age but is not connected to any specific immunosuppression regimen7,8. The mechanisms that contribute to the increased risk of cancer in immunosuppressed recipients include: a) impaired immune surveillance for abnormal cells, b) susceptibility to viral infections with oncogenic potential, and c) possibly, a direct pro-neoplastic action of some immunosuppressive drugs4,5. It has been noticed that neoplasms that are manifested in renal transplant recipients during immunosuppressive therapy are biologically more aggressive than those that occur in the general population4,5, without clear connection between the intensity of immunosuppression (number of rejection episodes) and the number of tumors.
There are three theories regarding the pathogenesis of carcinosarcoma: 1. the collision theory, in which the two components arise independently and then fuse; 2. the most widely accepted combination theory, where a common stem-cell-precursor gives rise to both cell subtypes; 3. the conversion theory, where the sarcomatous elements arise from the epithelial component2. Disease staging is finalized after surgery and follows the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification for epithelial ovarian tumors2.
As with other ovarian malignancies, the treatment of choice is optimal debulking which has been associated with significantly better overall survival rates and prolonged time till relapse2. Other significant prognostic factors include age, advanced disease stage at presentation, histologic features of the epithelial component (serous has a worse prognosis than non-serous), increased mesenchymal participation (>25% of stromal elements), high vascularity and p53-overexpression2.
Following surgery, most patients undergo adjuvant chemotherapy based on cisplatin/carboplatin6. In cases of solid organ recipients, appropriate immunosuppression changes should be made6. The average survival is less than 2 years, with median disease-free survival at 11 months. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ovarian carcinosarcoma described in a renal transplant recipient.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.
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