Intraoperative cytology of small cell carcinoma of the ovary with hypercalcemia. A case report.

Small cell carcinoma of the ovary is a rare but lethal neoplasm occurring in the young. In two-thirds of the cases the tumor produces paraendocrine hypercalcemia. The tumor, despite the name, is composed of a dimorphic population of small and large cells, the histogenesis of which is still a controversial matter. Except for a single illustration, no detailed study of this rare entity appears to have been performed previously. The composite cytologic features as seen on touch imprints are presented in this case report, with ultrastructural and immunohistochemical correlations.