A ruptured jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumor with hemoperitoneum mimicking ovarian carcinoma

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the small bowel is a rare malignancy and accounts for only 0.1-3% of all gastrointestinal neoplasms. GISTs may mimic gynecologic tumors. The authors present an unusual case of ruptured jejunal GIST with hemoperitoneum mimicking ovarian carcinoma.

A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with progressive, generalized low abdominal pain for 3 months. Computed tomography (CT) imaging depicted a 9.6 cm-sized, complex and solid mass on the left pelvic cavity and a 3.7 cm-sized heterogeneous, enhancing mass on the right adnexa, suspicious for ovarian cancer accompanied by hemoperitoneum. There was no active bleeding. Laboratory examination revealed a low level of serum hemoglobin (6.7 g/dL), and a raised serum level of CA-125 (107.0 U/mL). Based on CT imaging findings and an elevated serum level of CA-125, bilateral ovarian cancer was suspected. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, and frozen section of the excised mass indicated malignancy originating from the small bowel jejunum. Consequently, small bowel segmental resection with mesenteric resection was done, and a debulking operation including hysterectomy, BSO, BPLD, omentectomy, and excision of multiple metastatic masses in the peritoneum was performed. Subsequent histopathologic examination confirmed the final diagnosis of high risk GISTs of the primary small bowel jejunum. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and adjuvant Imatinib was administered.

The authors report an unusual case of ruptured jejunal GIST with hemoperitoneum mimicking ovarian carcinoma. Therefore, GIST, in addition to ovarian cancer, should be considered in patients with an increased serum level of CA-125 and an abdominopelvic mass.