Ovarian cancer mimicking recurrence at colorectal anastomosis: report of a case.

PURPOSE

The aim of this article is to emphasize the increased risk of developing metachronous ovarian tumors after resection of rectal cancer.

METHOD AND RESULTS

We report the case of a postmenopausal female patient who, five years after anterior resection, developed a primary ovarian malignancy that invaded a rectal anastomosis and in so doing mimicked a recurrence of a Dukes A rectal cancer. To our knowledge, such an occurrence has not been described previously in the literature.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrates the possible benefits of routine prophylactic oophorectomy at the time of colorectal cancer resection.