Gallbladder carcinoma presenting as a pelvic mass with elevated serum testosterone: a case report
Ann Marie Ricks1, Liz Y Han, Asif Rashid
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA.
The Journal of Reproductive Medicine
|May 15, 2009
Summary
Elevated CA 125 and testosterone in women can indicate ovarian tumors, but this case highlights that gallbladder cancer metastasis can mimic these primary ovarian conditions.
Area of Science:
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Medical Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pelvic masses with elevated cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) and testosterone present a complex differential diagnosis.
- These symptoms can indicate primary ovarian tumors or metastases from non-gynecologic cancers.
Observation:
- A 63-year-old woman presented with a pelvic mass, abdominal pain, and virilization.
- Her serum CA 125 and testosterone levels were significantly elevated.
- Preoperative assessment suggested a Sertoli-Leydig tumor, a type of ovarian tumor.
Findings:
- The final diagnosis revealed stage IV primary gallbladder malignancy with ovarian metastases.
- This demonstrates that gallbladder cancer can metastasize to the ovaries.
Implications:
- Ovarian metastases can clinically resemble primary ovarian neoplasms.
- Metastasis from non-gynecologic primary cancers should be a key consideration in the differential diagnosis of complex pelvic masses in women.
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