Exophytic colon cancer mimicking an ovarian tumor: the value of evaluation of the venous anatomy on MDCT

Abstract

We report a case of exophytic sigmoid colon cancer mimicking an ovarian tumor. This tumor showed submucosal growth accompanied by an extracanal cystic component. It was difficult to determine whether this tumor derived from the sigmoid colon or from the ovary by double contrast barium enema and endoscopic examination. On multidetector-row CT (MDCT), it was possible to see that this mass continued not to the gonadal vein but to the inferior mesenteric vein indicating sigmoid colon origin. In determining the origin of a pelvic mass, it is useful to evaluate the relationship between the tumor and the venous anatomy.