Primary carcinoma of the rectovaginal septum diagnosed as uterine prolapse

Primary carcinoma of the rectovaginal septum is very rare. Most cases are associated with documented endometriosis, and patients will often present with vaginal or rectal bleeding.

A 47-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of urinary symptoms and "something falling out of the vagina." She was diagnosed initially as having uterine prolapse. However, further investigations and surgery showed that she had a primary papillary serous carcinoma of the rectovaginal septum, and the carcinoma later metastasized to the lymph nodes. No evidence of endometriosis was found. Assessment and subsequent treatment of this aggressive tumour was likely delayed because of its initial benign presentation.

Our presentation of the case of a woman with primary carcinoma of the rectovaginal septum not associated with a focus of endometriosis shows that this rare aggressive cancer may present in a clinically benign fashion.