Estrogen and progestin receptors in an ovarian ependymoma

Ovarian neoplasms of the pure neuroectodermal type, although quite rare, have recently been described. Lesions of similar histology in the central nervous system have previously been shown to contain estrogen and progestin receptors. A patient with a pure ovarian ependymoma is presented. The tissue was rich in estrogen and progestin receptor protein, containing 17 femtomoles of estrogen receptor per milligram cytosol protein and 80 femtomoles of progestin receptor per milligram cytosol protein. The case is used to illustrate the possible influence of hormonal manipulation in the management of this rare gynecologic neoplasm.