Serous psammocarcinoma of the ovary: an unusual finding

BACKGROUND: Serous psammocarcinoma of the ovary is a rare and infrequently described variant of ovarian cancer, characterized histologically by the pervasive presence of psammoma bodies. The risk of recurrent disease following surgical resection is low. CASE HISTORY: A 70-year-old patient was admitted to the emergency room after falling at home. CT evaluation revealed a pelvic mass and free fluid in the abdomen and pelvis. Her serum CA-125 level was greatly elevated. The patient underwent an abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Histologic examination revealed serous psammocarcinoma of the ovary. CONCLUSION: Psammocarcinoma is a rare form of ovarian cancer associated with a favorable prognosis. However, the rare incidence of this disease and inconsistent biological behavior can confound the diagnosis for the treating physician.