Imaging findings for mucinous tumors of the abdomen and pelvis

Abstract

This article aims to describe the imaging findings for mucinous tumors of the abdomen and pelvis, which have a similar appearance on imaging tests regardless of the organ in which they develop. Due to the high water content of mucus, the appearance of these tumors is generally similar to that of water on ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Another common feature of mucin-producing tumors is that calcifications are often present. The rupture of these lesions and accumulation of mucinous material in the peritoneal cavity gives rise to pseudomyxoma peritonei. It is important to identify mucinous tumors because they have a different prognosis and clinical course than non-mucinous tumors and require different management. Depending on their anatomic location and their imaging characteristics, the treatment approach varies from follow-up to radical surgery together with chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma mucinoso; Computed tomography; Imagen por resonancia magnética; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mucin; Mucinas; Mucinous adenocarcinoma; Neoplasias; Neoplasias del páncreas; Neoplasias mucinosas papilares del tracto biliar; Neoplasias ováricas; Neoplasms; Ovarian tumors; Pancreatic tumors; Papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct; Pseudomixoma peritoneal; Pseudomyxoma peritonei; Tomografía computarizada; mucocele.