Hyperamylasemia associated with progression of a serous surface papillary carcinoma

A 60-year-old white woman had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, hysterectomy, and omentectomy for serous surface papillary carcinoma. Combination chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide was given for 1 year, but was followed by relapse 4 months after completion. This relapse was associated with hyperamylasemia ranging from 2400 IU/liter in the early phase of relapse to 5800 IU/liter in the preterminal phase. While hyperamylasemia has been previously described in serous ovarian cystadenocarcinoma, to our knowledge this is the first report in a patient with serous surface papillary carcinoma. This marker may help in distinguishing the latter from malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum since this is often an extremely difficult differential diagnosis.