Abstract
IntroductionGiant cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary are rarely described conditions.Case presentationThe authors describe a 57-year-old Brazilian woman who presented with an increase in abdominal girth in February 2003. Imaging studies showed a giant abdominal pelvic mass with probable origin in the right ovary. Cancer antigen-125 was elevated, while carcinoembrionic antigen and alpha-fetoprotein were normal. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingoophorectomy and omentectomy were done. The mass weighed 40Kg, and the histopathology study revealed a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. She underwent chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin with no side effects. Under follow-up for more than 10 years, she is asymptomatic and with normal imaging and laboratory parameters, including the cancer antigen-125 marker.ConclusionThis huge tumor evolved for a long time unsuspected and without metastases in a patient from a developing region. The diagnostic and management challenges posed by this unexpected and unusual presentation of an ovarian cystadenocarcinoma are discussed.
Highlights
Giant cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary are rarely described conditions.Case presentation: The authors describe a 57-year-old Brazilian woman who presented with an increase in abdominal girth in February 2003
This huge tumor evolved for a long time unsuspected and without metastases in a patient from a developing region
Ovarian cysts are considered large if they have diameters between 5 and 15cm [3,8] or between 10 and 20cm [9]; and those with diameters over the respective upper limits are called giant cysts
Summary
Giant cystadenocarcinomas of the ovary are rarely described conditions.Case presentation: The authors describe a 57-year-old Brazilian woman who presented with an increase in abdominal girth in February 2003. Imaging studies showed a giant abdominal pelvic mass with probable origin in the right ovary. The mass weighed 40Kg, and the histopathology study revealed a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. She underwent chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin with no side effects. Mucinous cystadenomas have origins from inclusions and invaginations of the ovarian celomic epithelium and persistence of Müllerian cells, or from Wolffian epithelium and teratomas [1]. They often occur in the fourth and fifth decades, accounting for 25% of the ovarian tumors, 5% are bilateral and 15% are malignant [1]. The classical cells show clear cytoplasm and a hyperchromatic nucleus at the base [1].
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