Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma: A case report

First Report of Retroperitoneal Mucinous Cystadenoma in a Patient with Hirsutism

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenomas (PRMC) are rare benign neoplasms with only 55 documented cases in the English literature so far. A 19-year-old female exhibited hirsutism and was found to have a cystic mass measuring 5.8 cm × 3.9 cm × 5.8 cm in the left retroperitoneum. During subsequent work up, a high pre-operative value of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) was noted. The patient was referred to surgical oncology and underwent an uneventful laparoscopic cystectomy. Pathology classified the cyst as PRMC. Post-operatively, the patient's DHEA-S levels normalized, though there was no appreciable decrease in the patient's hirsutism in the short-term follow-up. The origin of PRMC is uncertain. Due to their unknown biological potential, surgical resection is usually recommended. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report documenting a PRMC and elevated levels of androgens in conjunction with hirsutism.

Primary Retroperitoneal Mucinous Tumours Diagnosed in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Literature Review

We present the case of a pregnant patient who was found to have a primary retroperitoneal mucinous tumour (PMRT). An abdominal mass measuring 11.5 × 9.8 × 8.8cm, initially thought to be of ovarian origin, was found incidentally on ultrasound in a 36-year-old patient at 20 weeks’ gestation. Tumour markers were normal. She underwent an elective Caesarean section at 34 weeks, but the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries were normal. The mass was found to be retroperitoneal. A clinical decision was made to avoid further surgical exploration at the time. Following further surgical planning, the patient underwent open resection of the retroperitoneal mass, 6 weeks after her Caesarean section. Histology confirmed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma suggestive of a primary retroperitoneal mucinous adenocarcinoma. A literature review following this identified five case reports of PMRT in pregnancy in the last decade. In all cases, the patients underwent tumour resection without adverse pregnancy outcomes. While our patient had an uncomplicated pregnancy, she developed a 2cm lesion suggestive of disease recurrence 15 months post-operatively. A plan was made for surgical resection. PMRT are rare, but can occur in pregnant patients and patients of childbearing age. Tumour resection should be carried out, but where there is no concrete evidence of tumour invasion, the uterus and ovaries should be spared to avoid infertility and menopause. We would recommend early tumour resection, given its potentially aggressive nature.

A case report and a literature review of primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma: the importance of imaging in diagnosis and management

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma (PRMC) is an extremely rare tumor: its histogenesis and its biological behavior remain speculative. Since most retroperitoneal tumors are malignant, a preoperative diagnosis of benignity is essential and it can be reached through imaging examinations, allowing a conservative management approach. We describe the case of a 52-year-old woman with abdominal pain and a palpable mass. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a retroperitoneal cystic mass, which was resected successfully through laparoscopy and diagnosed as PRMC. Although there are no pathognomonic, clinical or radiological findings for PRMC, it should be included in the list of differential diagnoses and its imaging criteria of benignity should always be sought, with the aim to exclude malignant tumors.