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Introduction

Thoracoscopy is a useful technique for diagnosing plural lesions, and it provides valuable information for identifying a cancer of an unknown primary origin (CUP) (1–3). The diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of CUP includes clinical and laboratory investigations, namely, imaging, endoscopy, pathology and tumor markers (4). In particular, in the work-up of a CUP patient with exudative pleural effusion, thoracoscopy is an established tool to aid diagnosis (5,6).

Ovarian cancer with intrathoracic metastases is often accompanied by abdominal-related symptoms, and ovarian cancer cases with only thoracic lesions are rare (7–10). It is not uncommon to initially categorize these rare cases as CUP (4,9,10). Here, we report 3 cases of ovarian cancer with predominantly intrathoracic lesions, which were diagnosed by thoracoscopy. In addition, in these cases, we observed an association between the serum Krebs von den lungen-6 (KL-6) level and the state of the ovarian cancer.

Case reports

Case 1

A 46-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with right pleural effusion on chest radiograph and computed tomography (CT) (Fig. 1A and B). Her chief complaints were coughing and exertional dyspnea. She underwent diagnostic thoracentesis and cytological examination of pleural effusion showed adenocarcinoma cells. We could not detect the origin of the adenocarcinoma on chest and abdominal CT, gastroscopy, physical examination and gynecological examination. Serological test revealed highly elevated levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) (761.6 U/ml; normal <28) and KL-6 (6991 U/ml; normal <500). Thoracoscopy was performed under local anesthesia, and multiple small nodular lesions of parietal pleura were observed (Fig. 1C). Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of pleural lesions showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma originating in the ovary or endometrium; the lesion was positive for CA-125, cytokeratin (CK) 7, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and vimentin, and negative for thyroid transcription factor (TTF)-1, CK20, calretinin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP)-15 (Fig. 1D and E). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the possibility of an ovarian tumor. She received chemotherapy involving paclitaxel plus carboplatin and abdominal surgery. She achieved a good response, and the serum levels of CA-125 and KL-6 decreased to normal levels (7.9 and 284 U/ml, respectively). Her final diagnosis was stage IV ovarian serous papillary carcinoma.

Figure 1. Case 1. (A) Chest X-ray film showing right pleural effusion. (B) CT scan showing right pleural effusion. (C) Thoracoscopic image showing multiple small nodular lesions of parietal pleura (diaphragmatic part). (D) A biopsy specimen from a pleural lesion. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (x400). (E) A biopsy specimen from a pleural lesion. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-CA-125 is positive (x400).

Case 2

A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of coughing and dyspnea. Chest radiograph and CT indicated right pleural effusion (Fig. 2A and B), and a cytological examination of the pleural effusion suspected cancerous cells. We were unable to determine the origin of the cancer on chest and abdominal CT, positron emission tomography (PET)-CT, physical examination, and gynecological examination. Serological test revealed elevated levels of CA-125 (211.1 U/ml) and KL-6 (791 U/ml). Thoracoscopy under general anesthesia showed multiple small nodular lesions of the parietal pleura and histopathological analyses of pleural lesions showed adenocarcinoma (Fig. 2C). Since we suspected lung adenocarcinoma or CUP, the patient received 4 courses of gemcitabine plus cisplatin. She achieved a good response, and the serum levels of CA-125 and KL-6 were decreased (13 and 490 U/ml, respectively). Approximately 2 years following the initial examin ation, she was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of abdominal fullness. Although chest CT showed no thoracic lesion, abdominal CT indicated ascites and a pelvic mass involving the left ovary. Serological test revealed re-elevated level of CA-125 (122.1 U/ml). To identify the origin of the previously diagnosed cancer, we re-examined the specimens of pleural lesions. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the samples were positive for CA-125 and CK7, and negative for TTF-1, CK20 and calretinin (Fig. 2D and E). Taking into account both immunohistochemical analyses and her clinical course, the patient was diagnosed with ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Figure 2. Case 2. (A) Chest X-ray film showing right pleural effusion. (B) CT scan showing right pleural effusion. (C) A biopsy specimen from a pleural lesion. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (x400). (D) Immunohistochemical staining of a biopsy specimen showed positivity for CA-125 (x400). (E) Immunohistochemical staining of a biopsy specimen indicating negativity for TTF-1 (x400).

Case 3

An 81-year-old woman with a complaint of dyspnea was referred to our hospital with pleural effusion on the chest radiograph and CT (Fig. 3A and B). Cytological examination of pleural effusion showed carcinoma cells. Serological examination revealed slightly elevated CA-125 (34.5 U/ml) and normal KL-6 (129 U/ml). We were unable to detect the origin of the carcinoma cells on chest and upper abdominal CT, physical examination and gynecological examination at the initial visit. Thoracoscopy under local anesthesia showed no lesion of the parietal pleura, and biopsies of the pleura showed normal tissue (Fig. 3C). Further analysis of the pleural fluid obtained by thoracoscopy suggested adenocarcinoma originating in the ovary; immunohistochemical examination of a pleural fluid cell block showed positive results for CA-125, CK7, CA19-9, CEA, epithelial antigen (Ber-EP4), and vimentin, and negative results for TTF-1, CK20, calretinin, CK5/6, caudal-type homeobox transcription factor-2 (CDX-2) and GCDFP-15 (Fig. 3D and E). PET-CT revealed a pelvic tumor involving the left ovary and small peritoneal dissemination. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Figure 3. Case 3. (A) Chest X-ray film showing right pleural effusion. (B) CT scan showing bilateral pleural effusion. (C) Thoracoscopic image showed no lesion of the parietal pleura. (D) Pleural fluid cell block indicating adenocarcinoma. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (x400). (E) Immunohistochemical examination of the pleural fluid cell block showed positivity for CA-125 (x400).

Discussion

We report three cases of ovarian adenocarcinomas diagnosed by thoracoscopy. All of the patients were middle-aged and elderly women with pleural effusion. Two of the three patients underwent thoracoscopy under local anesthesia and one patient underwent surgery under general anesthesia. Elevated levels of serum CA-125 and KL-6 were observed in two patients, and these markers indicated the state of the disease.

Diagnostic thoracoscopy under local anesthesia is a safe and effective technique in the work-up of a patient with pleural effusion of CUP (1–3). In Western countries, thoracoscopy under local anesthesia is called medical thoracoscopy, and it is an established tool used to aid diagnosis, particularly in patients with exudative pleural effusion of unclear origin (5,6). Diagnostic medical thoracoscopy for pleural effusions can be used to identify pleural lesions caused by malignancy with >90% precision, and pathological examination of biopsy specimens provides useful information for the diagnosis of primary lesions (2). Herein, we describe two patients with exudative pleural effusion who were accurately and safely diagnosed with ovarian cancer by medical thoracoscopy. Since medical thoracoscopy is relatively easily performed by pulmonologists, further utilization of this technique should be promoted at Japanese clinical sites.

The most common extra-abdominal site of ovarian cancer is the pleural space, and lung parenchymal involvement is relatively rare (11). In numerous ovarian cancer cases, abdominal symptoms are usually predominant and cases with only intrathoracic lesions are rare (9,11). Ovarian cancer cases with isolated malignant pleural effusion are likely to be categorized as CUP at the time of initial diagnosis (4,9). In previous reports, in approximately 10–15% of patients, who were initially diagnosed with CUP, the cancer origin was ultimately detected; however, ovarian cancer accounts for only 2–4% of such cases (9,12). In our cases, adequate sampling of tumor tissues or cells using thoracoscopy and immunohistochemical examinations were useful in the identification of the tumor origin.

Although serum tumor markers can be helpful in certain CUP cases, routine evaluation of commonly used epithelial tumor markers, namely CEA, CA19-9, CA15-3 and CA-125, has no proven diagnostic value (4). With regard to ovarian cancer, almost 80% of cases exhibit elevated serum CA-125 levels, but the specificity of this measurement is insufficient for the diagnosis (11,13). A recent report described an association between increased KL-6 levels and ovarian cancer, therefore, KL-6 is a useful tumor marker for ovarian cancer (14).

KL-6 is a circulating high-molecular-weight glycoprotein classified as MUC1 mucin, and is widely accepted as a marker for interstitial lung disease (15–17). Originally, KL-6 was introduced as a tumor marker for lung cancer, and elevated serum KL-6 levels were observed in 30–60% patients with lung adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer (15). Furthermore, in ovarian cancer cases, approximately 38% of patients exhibited increased levels of serum KL-6 (14). Although the mechanism of serum KL-6 elevation in cancer patients is not clarified, serum KL-6 is suspected to be derived from cancer cells (14,16). In a previous report, the serum levels of KL-6 and CA-125 were correlated with each other and they indicated the state of disease in patients with advanced and/or relapsed phase ovarian cancer (14). These phenomena were also observed in our cases; therefore, KL-6 is believed to be a useful tumor marker for diagnosing advanced ovarian cancers. Further investigations of our findings are warranted, and the biological mechanisms should be evaluated in detail.

In summary, we describe 3 cases of ovarian cancer with plural effusion diagnosed by thoracoscopy, including medical thoracoscopy. Although the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer was difficult in our cases, the measurement of serum KL-6 and CA-125 levels and immunohistochemical analyses should have been useful. Our report may provide additional information on the clinical significance of medical thoracoscopy and measurement of serum KL-6.

References