Rare Gynaecological Cancers

Some of these cancers are rare whereas others are an uncommon cause of peritoneal cancer

Rare Gynaecological Cancers

Some gynecological cancers are a rare and very uncommon source of peritoneal cancer. Rare gynecological origins of peritoneal cancer include granulosa cell tumors, germ-cell tumors and cervical cancer. The ovaries are the most common source of these rare tumors. The ovaries are comprised of different types of cells that give rise to different types of tumors. The most common cancer or the conventional cancer is epithelial ovarian cancer that arises from the surface lining and is not discussed in this section. Other tumors like granulosa cells tumors that arise from the stromal (supportive) cells and those that arise from the germ cells (that produce eggs) are considered to be rare gynecological cancers. Read on to know a little more about them.

Granulosa Cell Tumors

These tumors arise from the ovary but from a different type of cells compared to the conventional ovarian carcinomas. Most of these tumors are diagnosed in the 1st or 2nd stage. Peritoneal metastases are seen in 20-30%. Many times these tumors form single or few peritoneal deposits that can be easily treated with surgery. The treatment is cytoreductive surgery with or without HIPEC and intravenous chemotherapy.

The 5 and 10-year survival is much better compared to patients with the conventional or epithelial ovarian carcinomas.

Germ Cell Tumors

These tumors arise from the cells that ‘give life’ or the germinal epithelium of the ovaries. Most of these tumors are confined to the ovaries at the time of diagnosis or have spread to the lymph nodes.

The tumors consist of ‘totipotent’ cells – cells that can give rise to any cancer type. Peritoneal cancer spread is uncommon but when it is present, it is usually an aggressive type of cancer. There may be few or multiple tumors in the peritoneum. They are often large in size. The treatment is cytoreductive surgery and intravenous chemotherapy. Even with such treatment, they often recur early and patients survive for a few years only.

Cervical Cancer

Peritoneal cancer spread in patients with cervical cancer is uncommon and is mostly seen in those with advanced or recurrent disease. The disease is usually advanced and is accompanied by disease in other organs too. Even when the tumor is confined to the peritoneum, it tends to be widespread and is treated with intravenous chemotherapy alone. In rare cases, where the disease is limited and is under control after chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC are performed.