[Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary metastasizing to adrenal gland 13 years after initial diagnosis--diagnostic difficulties and immunohistochemical study].

UNLABELLED: We report a case of 49 year old woman with metastasizing granulosa cell tumor of the ovary, adult type, to the right adrenal gland 13 years after initial diagnosis. The tumor was asymptomatic and was detected incidentally by ultrasonography. We performed histopathological analysis of the tumor using immunohistochemical methods. The morphological features, without clinical data, demanded differential diagnosis with a huge group of small cell neoplasms. The immunohistochemical examination: CKAE1 + AE1, CK7, LCA, S-100, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, HMB45, estrogen, progesterone, EMA-negative, vimentine, CD99 and NSE positive, together with clinical data, allowed to make the final diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients operated due to granulosa cell tumor need long term follow-up, because of possibility of very late recurrences. In the literature review we did not find any case of isolated granular cell tumor metastasis to the adrenal gland. In the differential diagnosis of such tumors, except of histological features, clinical data play the main role. Usefulness of CD99 antibody in granular cell tumor diagnosis was confirmed. Positive reaction with NSE in tumor cells was detected.