Pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from colorectal cancer during pregnancy

Abstract

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is an extremely rare condition characterized by the presence of gelatinous ascites and disseminated intra-peritoneal mucinous tumors. To our knowledge, there have been only two case reports of pseudomyxoma peritonei during pregnancy in 2009, both of which originated from the appendix. We present the first case of pseudomyxoma peritonei originating from colorectal cancer during pregnancy. Prenatal ultrasound examination of a 34-year-old, asymptomatic woman revealed characteristic features of pseudomyxoma peritonei at 24 weeks gestation. At laparotomy, both ovaries were involved with copious amounts of mucinous tumors and fluid, an advanced colorectal cancer had invaded the peritoneal cavity and multiple disseminated tumors were noted around the intraperitoneal cavity. All clinicians practicing obstetrics and gynecology must consider the possibility of a malignant neoplasm presenting in a pregnant woman and should recognize the highly characteristic features of pseudomyxoma peritonei to enable detection of this rare condition incidentally during routine screening ultrasound examinations.