Clinical analysis of 12 cases of ovarian neuroendocrine carcinoma

BACKGROUND Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the female genital tract are rare. AIM To enhance our clinical understanding of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the ovary. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted on 12 patients diagnosed with NEC of the ovary, analyzing clinicopathological characteristics, treatment modalities, and survival status. RESULTS The median age at diagnosis was 34.5 years (range: 20 to 62 years). Among the 12 cases, 9 were small cell carcinoma of the ovary and 3 were large cell NEC. Five cases were stage I tumors, one case was stage IV, and six cases were stage III. Eleven patients underwent surgery as part of their treatment. All patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Among the 12 patients, one patient received radiotherapy, and one patient with a BRCA2 mutation was administered PARP inhibitor maintenance after chemotherapy. The median progression-free survival was 13 months, and the median overall survival was 19.5 months. Four cases remained disease-free, while eight cases experienced tumor recurrence, including three cases that resulted in death due to disease recurrence. CONCLUSION NEC of the ovary is a rare condition that is more common in women of childbearing age and is associated with aggressive behavior and poor clinical outcomes. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment, with some patients benefiting from adjuvant chemoradiation therapy.