Ovarian vascular malformation – clinical presentation of Cowden syndrome
Authors:
Jana Pavlacká
; Michal Felsinger
; Luboš Minář
Authors‘ workplace:
Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika LF MU a FN Brno
Published in:
Ceska Gynekol 2025; 90(5): 388-394
Category:
Case Report
doi:
https://doi.org/10.48095/cccg2025388
Overview
Objective: We describe a case of a young girl diagnosed with vascular malformation of the left ovary and genetically confirmed Cowden syndrome. Case report: Clinically, the girl had no gynecological problems, but there was swelling of the right knee after physical exercise. The predominant finding on imaging was a venolymphatic malformation arising from the musculus vastus medialis detected by magnetic resonance imaging. After puncture of the lesion, the biopsy specimen was subjected to genetic examination, which revealed a heterozygous PTEN gene mutation. This proved Cowden syndrome at the molecular level. At the same time, heterogeneous expansion in the region of the left ovary was described on magnetic resonance imaging. Based on staging, diagnostic laparoscopy with lavage was indicated. Perioperatively, multiple adhesions in the small pelvis and a tumor arising from the left ovary were detected. Partial resection of the left ovary was performed, and perioperative cryobiopsy confirmed a vascular malformation, with no concomitant findings of a benign tumor or malignancy. Definitive histological examination of the resected left ovary showed the presence of vascular malformations, which clinically corresponds to possible symptoms of Cowden syndrome. Conclusion: Cowden syndrome is a rare genetic disorder whose diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, imaging studies, and subsequent genetic testing. Follow-up of patients abides by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations and requires a multidisciplinary approach.
Keywords:
vascular malformations – Cowden syndrome – PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome – breast and endometrial tumors
Sources
1. Lloyd KM, Dennis M. Cowden’s disease. A possible new symptom complex with multiple system involvement. Ann Intern Med 1963; 58 (1): 136–142. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-58-1-136.
2. Magaña M, Landeta-Sa AP, López-Flores Y. Cowden disease: a review. Am J Dermatopathol 2022; 44 (10): 705–717. doi: 10.1097/DAD.00000 00000002234.
3. Ngeow J, Mester J, Rybicki LA et al. Incidence and clinical characteristics of thyroid cancer in prospective series of individuals with cowden and cowden-like syndrome characterized by germline PTEN, SDH, or KLLN alterations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011; 96 (12): E2063–E2071. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-1616.
4. Farooq A, Walker LJ, Bowling J et al. Cowden syndrome. Cancer Treat Rev 2010; 36 (8): 577–583. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2010.04.002.
5. Sonagli M, Cagnacci Neto R, da Cruz Formiga MN et al. Cowden syndrome: a single institution case series and literature review. Rev Senol Patol Mamar 2020; 33 (2): 57–60.
6. Takayama T, Muguruma N, Igarashi M et al. Clinical guidelines for diagnosis and management of Cowden syndrome/PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome in children and adults-secondary publication. J Anus Rectum Colon 2023; 7 (4): 284–300. doi: 10.23922/jarc. 2023-028.
7. Pilarski R. Cowden syndrome: a critical review of the clinical literature. J Genet Couns 2009; 18 (1): 13–27. doi: 10.1007/s10897-008 - 9187-7.
8. Tan MH, Mester J, Peterson C et al. A clinical scoring system for selection of patients for PTEN mutation testing is proposed on the basis of a prospective study of 3042 probands. Am J Hum Genet 2011; 88 (1): 42–56. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.11.013.
9. Yehia L, Keel E, Eng C. The Clinical spectrum of PTEN mutations. Annu Rev Med 2020; 71 (1): 103–116. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-0522 18-125823.
10. Plevová P. An update on inherited colon cancer and gastrointestinal polyposis. Klin Onkol 2019; 32 (Suppl 2): 97–108. doi: 10.14735/amko2019S97.
11. Kalin A, Merideth MA, Regier DS et al. Management of reproductive health in Cowden syndrome complicated by endometrial polyps and breast Cancer. Obstet Gynecol 2013; 121 (2 Pt 2 Suppl 1): 461–464.
12. Tischkowitz M, Colas C, Pouwels S et al. Cancer surveillance guideline for individuals with PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome. Eur J Hum Genet 2020; 28 (10): 1387–1393. doi: 10.1038/s41431-020-0651-7.
13. Puchmajerová A, Vasovcák P, Krepelová A et al. Cowden syndrome. Klin Onkol 2009; 22 (Suppl): S56–S57.
14. Pîrlog LM, Pătrășcanu AA, Militaru MS et al. Insights into clinical disorders in Cowden syndrome: a comprehensive review. Medicina (Kaunas) 2024; 60 (5): 767. doi: 10.3390/medicina 60050757.
15. Frühauf F, Dvořák M, Haaková L et al. Ultrasound staging of endometrial cancer – recommended methodology of examination. Ceska Gynekol 2014; 79 (6): 466–476.
16. Gammon A, Jasperson K, Champine M. Genetic basis of Cowden syndrome and its implications for clinical practice and risk management. Appl Clin Genet 2016; 9 : 83–92. doi: 10.2147/TACG.S41947.
17. Mester J, Eng C. Cowden syndrome: recognizing and managing a not-so-rare hereditary cancer syndrome. J Surg Oncol 2015; 111 (1): 125–130. doi: 10.1002/jso.23735.
18. Dragoo DD, Taher A, Wong VK et al. PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome/Cowden syndrome: genomics, oncogenesis, and imaging review for associated lesions and malignancy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13 (13): 3120. doi: 10.3390/cancers13133120.
19. Tan MH, Mester JL, Ngeow J et al. Lifetime cancer risks in individuals with germline PTEN mutations. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 18 (2): 400–407. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2283.
20. Pilarski R. PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: a clinical overview. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11 (6): 844. doi: 10.3390/cancers11060844.
ORCID autorů
J. Pavlacká 0009-0001-3366-6808
M. Felsinger 0000-0002-3826-5675
L. Minář 0000-0001-9088-5428
Doručeno/Submitted: 5. 6. 2025
Přijato/Accepted: 26. 6. 2025
doc. MUDr. Luboš Minář, Ph.D.
Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika
LF MU a FN Brno
Obilní trh 526/11
602 00 Brno
minar.lubos@fnbrno.cz
Labels
Paediatric gynaecology Gynaecology and obstetrics Reproduction medicineArticle was published in
Czech Gynaecology
2025 Issue 5
Most read in this issue
- Effect of kisspeptin, neurokinin, and dynorphin neurons on regulation of reproduction
- Prevalence and hormonal profiling of secondary amenorrheic patients presenting to a fertility clinic – an observational study
- Vaginal fisting and risk of anogenital injury
- Laparoscopic management of ovarian torsion at 26 weeks of gestation