Primary squamous carcinoma of the ovary: a case report and review of the literature.

Only three cases of primary squamous carcinoma of the ovary have been reported to date. This fourth case serves to illustrate similarities between all known cases of this tumor. This tumor presents primarily as a simple cyst or has a major cystic component. Three of the reported cases (including the present one) had a prior diagnosis of carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix. Accurate surgical staging and complete tumor excision appear to be optimal therapy for squamous carcinoma of the ovary.