Hormonal treatment of a recurrent granulosa cell tumor of the ovary: case report and review of the literature

Background. Granulosa Cell tumors of the ovary are rare, primarily treated surgically. In advanced or recurrent disease, data are inconclusive regarding the benefit of either primary or adjuvant chemotherapy. Hormonal therapy has been suggested as an alternative treatment. Case. Our patient had three recurrences of estrogen receptor negative and progesterone receptor positive GCT, the first two treated by surgery with or without adjuvant chemotherapy. For the third recurrence, the patient received alternating biweekly cycles of megestrol and tamoxifen. Computed tomography showed stable disease at 6 months, partial response at 18 months, and complete response at 22 months. The patient continues on hormonal therapy and has been disease-free for 5 years. Conclusion. This study and others suggest that hormonal therapy may provide another option for treating these relatively rare tumors. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.