Concomitant mucinous tumors of appendix and ovary. Result of a neoplastic field change?

BACKGROUND

Mucinous tumors of the appendix and ovary are known to occur together in association with pseudomyxoma peritonei. It has been postulated that this association may be attributable to the development of independent tumors or to metastasis from one site to another.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This article reports two patients with concomitant mucinous ovarian and appendiceal tumors in the absence of pseudomyxoma peritonei.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence suggests that these tumors are independent primary neoplasms that develop as a result of neoplastic field change that affects colonic-type epithelium.