Primary ovarian carcinoid tumor with luteinized stromal cells

Abstract

Primary ovarian carcinoid tumors are rare. Distinct histologic patterns have been described in the literature as insular, trabecular, mucinous and mixed types. We describe a case of 71-year-old woman diagnosed with a left ovarian tumor. Frozen section examination identified the mass as a sex-cord stromal tumor. The surgically resected tumor was diagnosed as an insular carcinoid tumor with unusual luteinized stromal cells. Histologic diagnosis complied with results acquired by immunohistochemical with positivity of tumor cells for neuroendocrine markers and positivity of luteinized stromal cells for alpha-inhibin, calretinin and Melan A. Ovarian carcinoid tumor can be extremely heterogeneous. The purpose of our report was to show that the ovarian carcinoid tumor can be associated with stromal luteinization, mimicking a sex-cord stromal tumor.