Early stage ovarian carcinoma with symptoms mimicking tuberculous peritonitis in a postmenopausal woman: A case report.

RATIONALE

Ovarian cancer has the poorest prognosis of the gynecological cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment are important, but early-stage ovarian carcinoma has nonspecific symptoms. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and serum CA-125 levels can be helpful but may not elucidate cases of diffuse peritoneal diseases mimicking carcinomatosis.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient had intermittent abdominal discomfort and dysuria. Abdominal-pelvic computed tomography findings were suspicious for peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) and a small cystic mass in the left ovary. The CA-125 values were normal.

DIAGNOSES

She underwent laparoscopy for pathologic confirmation of tuberculous peritonitis and management of the ovary mass. Bilateral adnexectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a serous ovarian carcinoma in her left ovary and salpinx.

INTERVENTIONS

Laparoscopic hysterectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, para-aortic nodal dissection, and omentectomy were carried out for staging evaluation.

OUTCOMES

We encountered a rare case of ovary cancer stage IA serous ovarian carcinoma incidentally discovered by laparoscopy in a postmenopausal woman. She received adjuvant chemotherapy without relapse.

LESSONS

Peritoneal TB may mimic peritoneal or ovarian carcinoma, but the reverse case is rare. Hence, gynecologists should be careful in assessment of patients before treatment.