Synchronous Mucinous Carcinomas of Ovary and Appendix: A Case Report With Diagnostic Pitfalls and Review of Corresponding Literature

Abstract

Background Diagnosis of the primary ovarian mucinous neoplasms occasionally poses a challenge because historically most tumors diagnosed as primary ovarian were documented as metastases from gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary tracts. This challenge is attributed to the overlapping histologic features, the gray zone, between primary and metastatic mucinous neoplasms in the ovary. While presentation of both primary and metastatic mucinous tumors manifests by the presence of an ovarian mass, determination of the site of origin is clinically significant, because most treatment guidelines are based on the tissue of origin. Case Presentation We present an unusual case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary and the appendix with diagnostic pitfalls and challenges of immunohistochemical profile. Conclusion Utilization of molecular analysis in challenging cases of ovarian neoplasms helps to narrow down the gray zone and lessens the misdiagnosis of primary ovarian mucinous tumors.