Ovarian carcinoma metastatic to bilateral axillary lymph nodes. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths in women and usually presents with diffuse abdominal disease. Lymph node metastases are common, but axillary lymph nodes are rarely involved.

CASE: A 63-year-old woman, initially presenting with abdominal symptoms and massive ascites, underwent optimal cytoreduction followed by intravenous chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. The patient subsequently underwent a second-look surgery revealing only microscopically positive disease and then received intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin. At a follow-up visit, she was found to have bilateral axillary lymph node enlargement. Mammography revealed no lesions in either breast. Fine needle aspiration dissection confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic, recurrent ovarian adenocarcinoma and subsequently axillary lymph node dissection was undertaken.

CONCLUSION

Ovarian carcinoma, which usually follows typical patterns of metastatic involvement, can appear in unusual areas.