Spontaneous regression in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Although spontaneous regression has been reported in several cancers, it is generally believed that this rare phenomenon does not occur in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Case: We presented a stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer patient with long-term disease-free survival after palliative local irradiation alone against recurrence. The recurrent supraclavicular lymph node was almost completely necrotic, and the swelling of the para-aortic lymph node spontaneously regressed.

Conclusion: The histologic features and unexpected clinical course in this patient strongly suggest that spontaneous regression occurred in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.