Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary and antecedent of adjuvant tamoxifen use for breast cancer

World J Surg Oncol. 2010 Aug 12:8:67. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-8-67.

Abstract

Background: Adult granulosa cell tumor associated with antecedent use of tamoxifen as adjuvant hormonotherapy for breast cancer is rare. The pathogenesis of this occurrence remains difficult to explain. The estrogenic effect of tamoxifen can be one such explanation.

Case presentation: A 47 year-old women was treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen for stage III estrogen receptor positive breast carcinoma. Ten months after stopping tamoxifen, we diagnosed a stage Ic granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.

Conclusions: Use of tamoxifen has been found to be associated with gynecological tumors like endometrial carcinoma. Its association with granulosa cell tumor of the ovary is uncommon. Only two previous cases have been reported in literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Granulosa Cell Tumor / chemically induced*
  • Granulosa Cell Tumor / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / chemically induced*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / diagnosis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / chemically induced*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Prognosis
  • Tamoxifen / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Tamoxifen