Primary mucinous carcinoid tumor of the ovary. A case report

A case of primary ovarian mucinous carcinoid tumor in a 36-year-old woman is described. The tumor was present in the wall of a mature teratoma and microscopically showed tubules and glands containing goblet cells interspersed among columnar to cuboidal cells with uniform round nuclei and granular cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of the tumor cells contained argyrophil granules on Grimelius stains. Immunohistochemical stains utilizing antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen, chromogranin, and pancreatic polypeptide were positive. Although primary mucinous carcinoid tumors are generally believed to exhibit more aggressive behavior than other categories of carcinoid tumors, the patient was treated conservatively with a right salpingo-oophorectomy and remains well 3 years later, suggesting that unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and careful follow-up are adequate therapy in a young woman when the tumor is confined to the ovary.