Primary trabecular carcinoid tumor of the ovary

Three cases of primary trabecular carcinoid tumor of the ovary are reported. In two cases the tumor was a pure trabecular carcinoid, while the third it was associated with mature cystic teratoma. The patients were aged 36, 48 and 56 years. The presenting symptoms were lower abdominal pain and the presence of a lower abdominal mass. In one case the tumor was found incidentally. There was no evidence of metastases or carcinoid syndrome in any of these cases. The treatment was bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy in two cases and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in one case. All the patients are well and disease-free for periods ranging from 4-13 years after surgery. The pathology, differential diagnosis and behavior of this entity are discussed and reviewed. Primary trabecular carcinoid of the ovary is an uncommon ovarian tumor, behaving like a tumor of low malignant potential. In the younger patient the treatment is unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, while in the postmenopausal patient bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy is the treatment of choice. Long-term follow-up is advisable.