Hydropic leiomyoma presenting as a rare condition of pseudo-Meigs syndrome: literature review and a case of a pseudo-Meigs syndrome mimicking ovarian carcinoma with elevated CA125

Abstract

The clinical scenario of a female patient with a pelvic mass, elevated CA125 tumour marker, pleural effusion and ascites is often associated with malignancy. However, not all cases are malignant. Non-malignant diseases, such as Meigs syndrome and pseudo-Meigs syndrome, must be part of your differential. We present a 56-year-old woman with dyspnoea secondary to a right pleural effusion. After further investigations, a serum cancer antigen-125 was found to be elevated at 437.3 U/mL. CT of her abdomen and pelvis showed a large heterogeneous mass in the pelvis measuring 13.2×9.7×15.1 cm with mild ascites. She was initially thought to have ovarian carcinoma and underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with omental biopsy. Pathology from the surgical specimen revealed a hydropic leiomyoma and after removal of pelvic mass her pleural effusion and ascites completely resolved. She was ultimately diagnosed with the rare pseudo-Meigs syndrome.

Keywords: medical education; obstetrics and gynaecology; oncology.