A case of Adenocarcinoma of the Ovary diagnosed by Vaginal Smear

Abstract

In 1949, Frech discovered the first example of ovarian cancer cells in vaginal smear but it is considered rare to find cancer cells in the vaginal smear, ovariau.Cancer cells were detected in the vaginal smear from a 62-year-old woman, 6 years after meno pause and having no subjective complaints.Ovarian source of the malignant cells in the smear was suspected from morphology of the cells which were large, had prominent nucleoli, without infiltra tion of leucocytes in vacuoles, and papillary arrangement of the cells. In addition, cytohor monal study of the smear showed abnormal matu ration index suggestive of a high estrogenic activity.Pathological examination of postoperative specimens confirmed the presence of papillary adeno carcinoma in the right ovary, but no metastasis was found in both tubes or in the left ovary, and in the uterus. It was considered that the appearance of cancer cells in the vaginal smear was due to discharge of cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity into the vagina via the Fallopian tubes, uterine cavity, and the cervix.