A case of metastatic carcinoid arising in an ovarian teratoma: Case report with autopsy findings and review of the literatur

Abstract

A case is presented of widely metastasizing carcinoid tumor with clinical manifestations of the carcinoid syndrome arising in an adult cystic ovarian teratoma in a 66-year-old woman. Biochemical assays showed both 5-HIAA and calcitonin levels to be markedly elevated. By light microscopy, the neoplasm was strongly argyrophilic and weakly argentaffin positive. Ultrastructurally, the presence of pleomorphic intracellular dense core granules averaging 260 nm in diameter were found. The literature is reviewed.