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Embryonal carcinoma of the ovary. A clinicopathologic entity distinct from endodermal sinus tumor resembling embryonal carcinoma of the adult testis
Author(s) -
Kurman Robert J.,
Norris Henry J.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197612)38:6<2420::aid-cncr2820380630>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - embryonal carcinoma , endodermal sinus tumor , pathology , ovary , human chorionic gonadotropin , carcinoma , germ cell tumors , immunohistochemistry , medicine , germ cell , clear cell carcinoma , dysgerminoma , biology , immunoperoxidase , hormone , cellular differentiation , biochemistry , chemotherapy , gene , antibody , immunology , monoclonal antibody
The clinical and pathologic features of 15 examples of a hitherto undescribed germ cell tumor of the ovary are delineated. This tumor resembles the embryonal carcinoma of the adult testis and may be distinguished from the endodermal sinus tumor on the basis of its histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics. An indirect immunoperoxidase method for the localization of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) was done on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue from 10 neoplasms; HCG was present in all 10 neoplasms, and AFP was found in seven. HCG was identified only in cells resembling syncytiotrophoblast, whereas AFP was present only in mono‐nuclear embryonal cells, indicating that the two protein antigens were localized in different cell types. Abnormal hormonal manifestations, consisting of precocious puberty, irregular bleeding, amenorrhea, or hirsutism, were present in nine (60%) of the patients. The actuarial survival for the entire group was 39%; for those with stage I tumors, 50%. We are proposing the term “embryonal carcinoma” for this neoplasm in order to distinguish it from the more common endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary and to emphasize the histologic similarity to embryonal carcinoma of the adult testis.