Tuboovarian abscess mimicking malignancy: report of two cases

Tuboovarian abscess is a well-known sequela of acute or chronic salpingitis. In a small percentage of patients, these inflammatory masses compress or even rupture into the adjacent viscera, thus simulating the condition of pelvic malignancy, particularly when the clinical presentations are indolent. We describe two cases of tuboovarian abscess mimicking malignancy. Case 1: A 39-year-old woman with an intrauterine device had a clinical presentation mimicking an exophytic submucosal colorectal tumor with suspicious mucosal invasion. She complained of tenesmus but did not experience fever or adnexal tenderness. A right tuboovarian abscess with fistula formation into the rectosigmoid colon was noted during laparotomy. Case 2: A 46-year-old woman with an intrauterine device had a preoperative diagnosis of uterine myoma with degeneration. At laparotomy, an omentum cake with dense pelvic adhesions was noted. Malignancy appeared to be present, and debulking surgery was performed. The final pathologic examination revealed bilateral chronic tuboovarian abscesses and focal omental abscess.