Primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum diagnosed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: report of a case

Surg Today. 2008;38(8):743-6. doi: 10.1007/s00595-007-3709-z. Epub 2008 Jul 31.

Abstract

A 53-year-old woman who had end-stage renal disease and hypertension presented with back pain. Chest radiographs and chest computed tomography (CT) showed right pleural effusion with bilateral pleural masses. The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for a biopsy of the right pleural mass and for an evaluation of pleural effusion. A frozen section specimen suggested a papillary adenocarcinoma, which was confirmed to be metastatic primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum by immunohistochemistry, an elevated serum cancer antigen (CA-125) level, and abdominal CT findings. We found that the patient had been unfortunately misdiagnosed to have advanced colon cancer 11 years previously and thus had undergone a right hemicolectomy which was followed by six cycles of 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy. Despite this, she survived more than 10 years and was later correctly diagnosed by VATS of the pleural lesions and based on a review of the previous pathology. The patient was transferred to an oncologist to receive the proper chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / diagnosis*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / pathology
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / surgery*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / diagnosis*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pleural Neoplasms / secondary
  • Pleural Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted*