Published online May 7, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i17.5427
Peer-review started: October 18, 2014
First decision: November 14, 2014
Revised: December 1, 2014
Accepted: January 16, 2015
Article in press: January 16, 2015
Published online: May 7, 2015
Processing time: 209 Days and 7.3 Hours
Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystic tumors are extremely rare. These tumors can be classified as a primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma with or without borderline malignancy or primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The most common of these is primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma, which almost always occurs in female patients; only ten cases have been reported in males. The most common clinical findings for this tumor type include nonspecific abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. A definitive diagnosis is usually obtained from histopathology after surgical excision. Here, we report the case of a 60-year-old female patient who complained of abdominal pain that had been present for 3 mo and presented with a palpable abdominal mass. Multidetector computed tomography scanning revealed a large, unilocular cystic mass in the left retroperitoneal space. Surgical intervention was performed and the tumor was completely removed. Histopathologic examination confirmed that the tumor was a primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma. Two years after surgery, the patient remains disease free.
Core tip: Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenomas are very rare tumors for which the biologic behavior and histogenesis remain speculative. No effective diagnostic measures have been established for an accurate preoperative diagnosis of these tumors. Symptoms of these retroperitoneal masses are caused by exertion of pressure and obstructive effects on adjacent organs. This report describes a case of a large, primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma in a female patient, which was visualized on multidetector computed tomography exam and completely enucleated at laparotomy.