Primary ovarian small cell carcinoma: four more cases.

A case report of four patients affected by primary ovarian small cell carcinoma is presented. The surgical and chemotherapeutic approaches are described for each case. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy obtained objective responses in two of four patients, but three of four patients died of disease progression within 2 years from the diagnosis. One patient, who was stage Ib and underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, total hysterectomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy is still alive 58 months after surgery. Accurate diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach are needed to ameliorate the prognosis of this tumor that, at present, remains very poor.