Paramesonephric papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma: a case report with scanning electron microscopy

A case report of a malignant tumor, presumably paramesonephric in origin, is presented. Although uncommon, malignancies of the cystic structures of the broad ligament have been reported. The embryologic derivations and histologic feature of these tumors--mesonephric, mesothelial and paramesonephric--have been describe extensively, but no primary lesion has been evaluated previously by scanning electron microscopy. A prior laparotomy and biopsy with a diagnosis of a malignant papillary growth, probably paramesonephric, stimulated the examination of fresh tissue by an ETEC Autoscan scanning electron microscope at subsequent definitive, ablative surgery. Although features of cellular dysplasia were noted, there were no specific, unique characteristics of this neoplasm. Since all reported cases have been premenopausal, a hormonal interaction is questioned.