Stage IIIC small cell carcinoma of the ovary: survival with conservative surgery and chemotherapy

Background Small cell carcinoma of the ovary is an aggressive tumor primarily affecting young women. Despite adjuvant therapy, the majority of patients described in the literature have fared poorly, even when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage. Case A 19-year-old nulligravida with small cell carcinoma of the left ovary underwent conservative surgery with staging and was found to have stage IIIC disease. She received multiagent chemotherapy with vinblastine, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, doxorubicin, and etoposide and is alive and doing well more than 2 years after completion of her therapy, with no evidence of disease. Conclusion In young patients who desire future fertility, conservative surgery followed by aggressive multiagent chemotherapy may be an effective treatment regimen and warrants further consideration.