BENIGN MULTICYSTIC PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA MIMICKING GYNECOLOGIC PATHOLOGY

SUMMARY

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare pathology that arises from the abdominal peritoneum. It has an affinity to develop on the surfaces of pelvic viscera. It predominantly occurs in women of reproductive age. The most used form of treatment is complete surgical removal. We report a case of a a 21-year-old female patient who presented with unclear diffuse abdominal pain. Transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis revealed multiple functional cysts in the projection of the right and left ovary and free fluid in the pouch of Douglas. Laparoscopy was performed and multicystic tumor with thin, smooth walls, filled with clear serous content was found in lesser pelvis spreading to the left paracolic region and under the spleen. The multicystic mass was removed. Histologic examination revealed cystic formations filled with mucous content and formed from connective tissue outside and single row epithelium-mesothelium inside. Definitive diagnosis was benign multicystic mesothelioma of the abdominal peritoneum. The patient was well at one year follow-up.

Introduction

Benign cystic mesothelioma is a rare disease that develops in the abdominal or pelvic cavity, but also in the pleura, pericardium, tunica vaginalis and spermatic cord (1). Tumors mostly occur in the pleura. The second most frequent site is the peritoneum (2). Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (BMPM) is a rare pathology involving peritoneal serosa (3). The incidence rates in industrialized countries range between 0.5 and three cases per million in men and between 0.2 and two cases per million in women (2). It is an uncommon lesion arising from the peritoneal mesothelium. It is mostly diffuse and has an affinity to develop on the surfaces of pelvic viscera (4). The etiology of BMPM is unknown and it predominantly occurs in women of reproductive age (5, 6). Some consider it to be a reactive process secondary to previous surgical trauma or inflammation causing peritoneal inclusion cysts (6). It is characterized by the formation of intra-abdominal multilocular cystic masses. Clinical presentation is nonspecific and most often it presents with unclear abdominal pain and presence of palpable masses in the abdomen. In other cases, it is accidentally discovered during routine diagnostic tests, general medical examinations or surgical procedures in the abdomen (5). Differential diagnosis includes cystic lymphangioma, mucinous cystadenoma, cystic teratoma and pseudomyxoma peritonei. There are no evidence-based treatment strategies for benign cystic mesothelioma, although the most used form of treatment is complete surgical removal. Even though it is considered as a benign tumor, it has a high local recurrence rate (5, 7).

Case Report

A 21-year-old female patient, with no serious illnesses prior to this, was admitted to our department with unclear diffuse abdominal pain. Transvaginal ultrasound (US) with color doppler and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated multiple functional cysts in the projection of the right and left ovary, and free fluid inside the vesicouterine and rectouterine excavation. The right ovary measured 3.5x2.7 cm and left ovary 3.3x2.6 cm. Laparoscopy was performed and multicystic tumor with thin, smooth walls, filled with clear serous content was found in lesser pelvis spreading into the left paracolic region and under the spleen. The multicystic mass was removed.

Cytologic analysis of the cystic fluid content showed clusters of fibroblasts, histiocytes and eosinophils with no malignant cells found. Complete resection was performed. Histopathologic analysis showed cystic formations filled with mucous content and formed from connective tissue outside and single row epithelium-mesothelium inside. Immunohistochemical stains were positive for calretinin, CK5/6 and CA125 (Fig. 1 a-d). Definitive diagnosis was BMPM.

Fig. 1.

Immunohistochemical staining positive for calretinin (a, b), cytokeratin 5/6 (c) and CA 125 (d).

The patient presented for regular check-ups and was well, with no signs of recurrence at one-year follow-up.

Discussion

Benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma was first described in 1979 by Menemeyer and Smith (4, 8). These tumors present as large multicystic masses with thin-walled septations and preference to the pelvic peritoneum, just like in our case. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, distention and tenderness often associated with nausea and vomiting, and in some cases even ascites (7, 9). Women are affected in 80% of cases, usually young to middle-aged women (mean age 37). Regarding the size, at the time of diagnosis, cysts have already grown (4, 7). MRI is the method of choice for peritoneal mesotheliomas (10). It has an advantage over computerized tomography or US because these two cannot distinguish benign cystic mesotheliomas from other cystic lesions. MRI is a method that can confirm the peritoneal origin, distinguish cystic content, or detect other lesions (8). On the other hand, some suggest that laparoscopy is the best diagnostic tool because it enables better visualization of the lesion, local biopsy and establishing a definitive diagnosis. According to these researchers, imaging techniques, including MRI, cannot differentiate BMPM from other cystic lesions (7). Differential diagnosis includes lymphangioma, pseudomyxoma peritonei, endometriosis, ovarian cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma, cystic teratomas, other omental-mesenteric cysts, etc. The most important differentiation is between BMPM and cystic lymphangioma, cystic adenomatoid tumor and malignant mesothelioma (4, 9, 11). Total surgical excision is the best form of treatment but the local recurrence rate is quite high, ranging from 33% to 50% (4, 11). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are ineffective in the case of BMPM. When it occurs in the pelvic region, especially in young women, surgeons must always have in mind how to preserve fertility during the operation (11). It has an excellent prognosis because only one death case has ever been reported in the literature (4, 11).

Conclusion

This case draws attention to the importance of considering BMPM in differential diagnosis of multilocular cystic masses in the pelvis. Especially gynecologists, as well as pathologists should be aware of this possibility.