Case History

A 45-year-old Muslim housewife came with difficulty in passing urine and stools since 2 months on daily basis. Initially, she started having increased frequency of micturation, every half an hour. There was no history of dysuria/pyuria/lithuria/hematuria or retention of urine.

The patient was passing hard stools in small quantities, usually mixed with mucus, but without blood. She had tenesmus and associated dull aching pain in the left iliac fossa, which used to increase with laxatives and to decrease with defecation. She had no vomiting or distension of the abdomen.

Two years back, she complained of having polymenorrhea, for which she underwent dilatation and curettage followed by total abdominal hysterectomy with right salphingo-oophorectomy and partial excision of a left-sided chocolate cyst. Histopathology report of that confirmed the presence of endometriosis. Postoperatively, she had an uneventful recovery except for minor wound infection. She had no major medical illness in the past. She has two children, both full-term normal deliveries. She had no family history of cancer. She eats mixed diet, with regular consumption of red meat.

On examination, the patient’s vital parameters were within normal limits (WNL). She had marked pallor and she was obese. On per-abdomen examination, the abdomen was soft and a Pfannenstiel scar of previous surgery was seen. On per vaginal examination (PV), a fixed mass on the posterior portion of the vault was noted. On per rectal examination (PR), the rectal mucosa was free and the mass was impinging on the upper portion.

Her hemoglobin on admission was 6.8g%. A transfusion of two units of packed red cells was given pre-operatively and her pre-operative hemoglobin reached 9.2g%. Her total WBC count was 12,600/cmm, and her LFT, RFT and BS were WNL. Her CA-125 levels were14.1 IU/L (WNL). Ultrasonography revealed a mass of 9 x 8 x 8cm within the pelvis with heterogenous echoes and cystic components seen in it. The left ovary was visualized but could not be differentiated from the lesion. The lesion had normal vascularity and it indented the urinary bladder, suggesting broad ligament fibroid or left ovarian mass or retroperitoneal sarcoma.

CT scan showed a large well-defined peripherally enhancing mass of 11.3 x 9.3 x 10 cm in the pelvis, posterior to the urinary bladder, above the vaginal vault, superiorly up to the sacral promontory. The possibility of a left ovarian neoplasm was suggested. A thickening of the adjacent portion of rectum and sigmoid colon with sub-centimeter satellite nodules on the bladder was noted.

Figure 1

Figure 1: CT scan showing the pelvic growth

The patient was subjected to exploratory laparotomy with pelvic mass excision and rectosigmoid anastomosis with colostomy. DJ stenting of left ureter was done prior to surgery. There was a mass of about 10 x 11 x 9cm, occupying almost the entire pelvic cavity, pushing the urinary bladder to the right side. The mass involved the rectum and the sigmoid colon, with no plane of cleavage between them. The polypoidal growth of about 3 x 2cm in the proximal rectum was removed along with the rest of the tumor. Lymph nodes posterior to the rectum were sent for histopathology. The distal part of the rectum was anastomosed with the sigmoid colon. A defunctioning transverse loop colostomy was done and matured after 48 hours.

On gross examination, the specimen of rectosigmoid colon measured 10.5cm in length. The external surface showed congestion. On opening, a polypoid growth came out from the rectal end measuring 2.5 x 2 x 2cm. Cut section showed grayish-white mucoid infiltrating up to the serosa. Further well-circumscribed nodular masses measured 12 x 8 x 4cm, 7 x 6 x 3cm and 5 x 7 x 2cm. On cut section, they were solid and cystic. The cysts contained yellowish mucoid material.

Figure 2

Figure 2: Specimen of rectum showing the rectal polyp

On histopathology, the polypoid rectal mass revealed well-differentiated mucin secreting adenocarcinoma (G1) infiltrating through the muscularis up to the serosa (T3). A lot of extracellular mucin was present in the rectal wall. Lymphovascular emboli and perineural invasion were also present. Both proximal and distal margins were free. Reactive lymph nodes were present. The Fallopian tubes were adherent to the mass.

Discussion

Rectal carcinoma is one of the most frequently diagnosed gastro-intestinal malignancies of the western world. In India, rectal carcinoma is estimated to be the third most common digestive cancer after carcinoma of the esophagus and stomach in men and the fourth most common cancer after esophageal, stomach and gallbladder cancer in women.

Incidence of rectal cancer in India is considered moderate to low (4-5/100,000) as compared to Western population (12-14/100,000). The projected incidence in India was 17,445 cases per year in 2001 and has been increasing since.

Adenocarcinomas (98%) comprise most rectal cancers. Other rare rectal cancers include carcinoid (0.1%), lymphoma (1.3%), and sarcoma (0.3%). The incidence of colorectal malignancy is slightly higher in males than in females. The incidence peaks in the seventh decade; however, cases have been reported in young children.

Carcinoma Of The Rectum: Typical Symptoms

Carcinoma Of The Rectum: Atypical Presentations

Conclusion

Rectal carcinoma usually presents with bleeding per rectum or with alteration in bowel habits. In our patient, the presentation was like that of a pelvic adnexal mass, probably a recurrent ovarian tumor in a known case of endometriosis. The presence of a rectal polyp was detected on the operation table and resection was performed. Histopathology confirmed malignancy of the rectum with adnexal involvement, but margins of resection were clear. Postoperatively, a chemotherapy (FOLFOX) regime was instituted for the patient. Patient and relatives were educated about colostomy care. The colostomy was functioning without any complications. Two months later, her colostomy was closed extra-peritoneally and now the patient is doing well at follow-up after six months.