Published online Oct 24, 2022. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v13.i10.853
Peer-review started: April 11, 2022
First decision: May 31, 2022
Revised: June 12, 2022
Accepted: October 11, 2022
Article in press: October 11, 2022
Published online: October 24, 2022
Processing time: 191 Days and 17.9 Hours
Retrorectal hamartomas or tailgut cysts (TCs) are rare. In most cases, they are asymptomatic and benign; however, rarely, they undergo malignant trans
A 55-year-old woman presented to our hospital with lower back pain. On magnetic resonance imaging, a large pelvic mass was found, which was located on the right of the ischiorectal fossa, extending to the minor pelvis. The patient underwent extensive surgical resection of the lesion through the right buttock. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a retrorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma originating from a TC. Surgical resection of the tumour was complete, and the patient recovered without complications. The pilonidal sinus was then excised. One year later, semi-annual positron emission tomography-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans did not reveal any evidence of local recurrence or metastatic disease.
Preoperative recognition, histological diagnosis, and treatment of TCs pose significant challenges. In addition, the possibility of developing invasive mucin
Core Tip: Retrorectal hamartomas or tailgut cysts are extremely rare. In certain cases, they undergo malignant transformation, predominantly in the form of adenocarcinomas. Mucinous adenocarcinomas are rare forms of carcinoma arising from tailgut cysts, with only 18 cases reported in the literature from 1988 to 2021. Furthermore, to our knowledge, coexistence of a pilonidal tract and mucinous adenocarcinoma is extremely rare; this being the second reported case in the literature. We present the case of a 55-year-old woman with a large pelvic mass on the right of the ischiorectal fossa and a pilonidal cyst. Surgical resection of the tumour and cyst was completed and the patient recovered well.