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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Heterotypic Three-dimensional In Vitro Modeling of Stromal-Epithelial Interactions During Ovarian Cancer Initiation and Progression
Published on: August 28, 2012
Immunohistochemical localization patterns for vimentin and other intermediate filaments in calcified ovarian
Eric Scott Sills1, Terrence B Doan, R James Mock
1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Research, Murphy Medical Center, Murphy, NC, USA. drsills@murphywomenscenter.com
Problem:
To describe immunohistochemical features encountered in ovarian fibrothecoma with correlation to clinical presentation and surgical management.
Method Of Study:
A female age 75 presented for evaluation of melena. The patient reported total abdominal hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries 40 years earlier.
Results:
CA-125 was normal and there was no evidence of hyperestrogen effect. Pelvic CT revealed a partially calcified 7 cm pelvic mass without adenopathy or ascites; ultrasound was confirmatory. Endoscopy identified three benign intestinal tubular adenomas. Following laparoscopic excision of the pelvic tumor immunohistochemical analysis of the mass showed negative staining for keratin, S100 protein, inhibin, calretinin, melan A, smooth muscle actin, CD34, CD117, and desmin. The tissue was positive for vimentin, however.
Conclusion:
Ovarian fibrothecomas represent an ovarian stromal neoplasm developing in a wide spectrum of clinical settings. Particularly if oophorectomy is stated to have been performed remote from the time of index presentation, the status of the ovaries must be considered whenever pelvic pathology is encountered. We describe a calcified ovarian fibrothecoma identified during gastroenterology investigation and confirmed immunohistochemically via high amplitude vimentin signal.
