Ruptured retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with synchronous gastric carcinoma and a long postoperative survival: case report.

We describe an 86-year-old woman with a long survival following surgey for a massive retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and a synchronous gastric carcinoma. Computed tomography showed a huge tumor with septation and calcification. Upper gastrointestinal radiography showed the additional gastric lesion. At operation, the 23 x 20 x 12-cm retroperitoneal tumor had ruptured. Tumor resection and distal gastrectomy including regional lymph nodes were performed. Mucinous peritoneal implants were removed as completely as possible. Histologically, the mucinous tumor showed limited invasion, whereas the poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma showed no serosal invasion. Among 18 retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinomas reported in the English literature since 1965, only ours was associated with gastric carcinoma. Despite peritoneal implants, our patient has survived for 6 years without clinical recurrence. As at other sites, retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma often grows slowly. Total removal, even after peritoneal dissemination, can result in long survival. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.