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Case Report
Appendiceal adenocarcinoma: Case report of an unexpected mimicker of ectopic pregnancy
1 Resident Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ascension Medical Group, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Address correspondence to:
Kristen L Stearns
MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226,
USA
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Article ID: 100071Z08KS2021
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Stearns KL, Wasserman S. Appendiceal adenocarcinoma: Case report of an unexpected mimicker of ectopic pregnancy. J Case Rep Images Obstet Gynecol 2021;7: 100071Z08KS2021.ABSTRACT
Introduction: Appendiceal neoplasms comprise a low percentage of gastrointestinal malignancies. These malignancies are most often noted incidentally on imaging or during surgery. There are few case reports describing malignancy of the appendix during pregnancy and even fewer that involve abnormal pregnancies, such as molar or ectopic pregnancy.
Case Report: This is the case of a 32-year-old female who presented with an unknown last menstrual period (LMP), positive home pregnancy test, and right adnexal mass. Due to the concern for ectopic pregnancy, she underwent laparoscopic assessment, revealing an appendiceal neoplasm. She was subsequently diagnosed with a concurrent molar pregnancy.
Conclusion: Given the proximity of the appendix to right-sided adnexal structures, appendiceal tumors can be mistaken for ovarian masses, or vice versa. Appendiceal adenocarcinoma often presents with symptoms of acute appendicitis and can mimic the pain of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy in reproductive aged women. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to consider involvement of both structures while evaluating an adnexal mass. Ultrasound imaging is the standard of care for women presenting with pelvic pain and an elevated β-hCG; however, alternative imaging modalities should be considered when ultrasound findings are not definitive.
Keywords: Appendiceal neoplasm, Ectopic pregnancy, Hydatidiform mole, Laparoscopic surgery
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Author Contributions
Kristen L Stearns - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Sheldon Wasserman - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published
Guaranter of SubmissionThe corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.
Source of SupportNone
Consent StatementWritten informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.
Data AvailabilityAll relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Conflict of InterestAuthors declare no conflict of interest.
Copyright© 2021 Kristen L Stearns et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.
