A patient with primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix metastasizing to the ovary

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this work is to draw attention to the difficulty of differential diagnosis of rare adenocarcinoma of the appendix and the histological diversity of ovarian tumors. Type of work: Case study and literary review
Case report: We present the case of a 62-year-old patient sent by an attending gynecologist for the finding of an asymptomatic adnextumor diagnosed during a routine preventive examination. Based on preoperative examinations, a malignant ovarian tumor was suspected. Standard surgery was performed including hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy, total omentectomy, appendectomy, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Definitive histopathological analysis revealed a secondary ovarian tumor, with the adenocarcinoma of the appendix appearing to be the primary site.
Conclusion: Up to 25% of all ovarian tumors are secondary metastatic tumors. Appendix neoplasia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of right-sided adnextumors. Due to their localization of the ovarian tumor, they can only mimic during imaging examinations or they can be the primary origins of an already metastatic ovary, as in our case.

Key words: appendiceal adenocarcinoma – secondary ovarian tumors