Extraovarian Primary Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gynecologic Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Extraovarian primary peritoneal carcinoma (EOPPC) is a rare epithelial malignancy arising from the peritoneum, distinct from ovarian cancer.
• It is a diagnosis of exclusion, requiring surgical assessment to rule out other primary tumor sites and ovarian involvement.

Observation:

• A 66-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain, abdominal distension, and elevated serum CEA levels.
• CT scan revealed peritoneal fluid, and laparoscopy showed diffuse carcinomatosis involving the omentum and bowel.
• Histopathology confirmed peritoneal serous carcinoma with uninvolved ovaries.

Findings:

• EOPPC can be misdiagnosed as epithelial ovarian cancer due to similar clinical presentations and peritoneal carcinomatosis.
• Normal-sized ovaries and the absence of an identifiable primary lesion are key indicators for considering EOPPC.

Implications:

• Accurate diagnosis of EOPPC is important, although current treatments may yield similar survival rates to ovarian cancer.
• Optimal cytoreductive surgery is essential for improving survival outcomes in EOPPC management.