PSEUDOMYXOMA PERITONEI: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

OBJECTIVE: We present the case of a patient incidentally diagnosed with a pelvic mass next to the bladder. After surgical excision, definitive diagnosis was pseudomyxoma peritonei. We provide a concise review of the literature of this pathology. METHODS: A 55 year-old male patient, was found to have, in annual routine ultrasound, a pelvic retrovesical mass. CT guided needle aspirate showed a tumor with myxoid changes and low aggressive cytology. Surgical excision was performed. RESULTS: The excised mass contained the cecal appendix and ileal serosa. Pathology report was: mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix and pseudomyxoma peritonei. CONCLUSIONS: PMP is a local-regional disease within the abdomen, characterized by a mucinous tumor (mucocele) that produces a progressive amount of mucinous ascites, which eventually blows-out, and tumor cells are spread through the peritoneal cavity. Treatment options differ significantly, depending the stage of the disease.