Synchronous Ovarian and Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasms in the Absence of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei.

BACKGROUND

Synchronous ovarian/appendiceal mucinous neoplasms sometimes occur in the absence of clinical pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), which raises a question about whether the 2 tumors could be independent.

METHODS

We identified 11 cases of synchronous ovarian/appendiceal mucinous neoplasms without PMP and subclassified them into groups 1 and 2 based on the presence or absence of microscopic peritoneal/ovarian surface mucin deposits. A 7-marker panel (CK7, CK20, CDX2, PAX8, MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC) immunohistochemistry was performed on both tumors.

RESULTS

Between the 2 groups, there were no significant differences in age, laterality, size, and histology of ovarian/appendiceal tumors. In group 1, 2 of 4 cases developed PMP later, and both had ovarian surface and contralateral ovarian involvement and appendiceal perforation with microscopic mucin deposits on the peritoneum. No patients in group 2 developed PMP. All group 1 cases showed a high degree of concordance of immunoprofile between the synchronous tumors, with an identical expression of appendiceal pattern in greater than 90% of the markers. In group 2, only 1 of 7 cases showed concordance in all markers.

CONCLUSIONS

If peritoneal mucin deposits present, even microscopic and acellular, the synchronous tumors are most likely of a single appendiceal origin. Otherwise, they are more heterogeneous, and some may be truly dual primaries.