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Case Reports
. 2025 Feb 12;17(2):e78894.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.78894. eCollection 2025 Feb.

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Pulmonary Type, With a Germline BRCA2 Mutation: A Report of a Rare Case

Asumi Misawa  1 , Miyamoto Shingo  2 , Tomoya Miyamura  1 , Takafumi Ogawa  3 , Miki Morioka  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Pulmonary Type, With a Germline BRCA2 Mutation: A Report of a Rare Case

Asumi Misawa et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, pulmonary type (SCCOPT), is a rare and aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. We report a rare case of this cancer in a patient with a germline BRCA2 (gBRCA2) mutation. A 66-year-old female patient presented with abdominal distention, underwent a laparotomy, and was diagnosed with stage IVB SCCOPT. Histopathological examination revealed no other ovarian tumor components. Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy was administered, followed by maintenance therapy with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) because of the gBRCA2 mutation. Despite expectations of a favorable outcome with the targeted maintenance therapy, disease progression was noted five months after starting maintenance therapy, and the patient died 12 months after surgery. The disease course suggests that maintenance therapy may have limited efficacy against this cancer, even in the presence of gBRCA2 mutations. Further research is necessary to investigate the role of PARPi and establish more effective oncological treatment for this cancer.

Keywords: drug resistance; germline brca mutations; gynec pathology; gynecologic oncology; maintenance therapy; ovarian carcinoma; poly(adp-ribose) polymerase-1 (parp1) inhibitor; pulmonary type; rare cancers; small cell carcinoma of the ovary.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Imaging findings at initial presentation
(A) MRI sagittal view showing a solid mass in the pelvis (12 × 7.8 cm). (B) MRI coronal view showing a solid mass around the uterus. (C) CT image showing a solid mass in the right adnexa and uterus. (D, E) CT image showing peritoneal dissemination. (F) CT image showing para-aortic lymphadenopathy. (G) MRI image showing multiple liver metastases. (H) MRI image showing vertebral bone metastases. CT: computed tomography, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
Figure 2
Figure 2. Histopathological findings
(A) Hematoxylin and eosin-stained photomicrograph of the operative specimen showing small cohesive cells with scant cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei, and brisk mitotic activity (magnification 20×). (B) Immunochemistry-treated photomicrograph showing chromogranin A positivity (magnification 20×). (C) Immunochemistry-treated photomicrograph showing synaptophysin positivity (magnification 20×). (D) Immunochemistry-treated photomicrograph showing CD56 positivity (magnification 20×).
Figure 3
Figure 3. Imaging findings after the completion of chemotherapy
PET image showing an absence of abnormal fluorodeoxyglucose-avid lesions. (A) PET image showing no fluorodeoxyglucose-avid lesions in the para-aortic lymph node area. (B) PET image showing no fluorodeoxyglucose-avid lesions in the pelvis. PET: positron emission tomography
Figure 4
Figure 4. Imaging finding at disease progression
CT image showing multiple liver metastases. CT: computed tomography
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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