[Krukenberg tumor. A seldom considered condition?]

In 1896, Krukenberg described what he presumed was a new type of primary ovarian neoplasm. The true metastatic nature of this lesion was established six years later. Some 10% of all ovarian malignant lesions are regarded as metastatic. Of these, approximately 50% are Krukenberg tumours. The tumour is well defined histologically and is usually secondary to a tumour in the gastrointestinal tract. We describe the case of a 48 year old woman with gastric cancer who, three years after diagnosis and subsequent total gastrectomy, was referred to us for observation with peritoneal involvement. We stress the importance of careful clinical and radiological follow-up of female patients with gastrointestinal cancer.