Primary serous papillary carcinoma of the peritoneum: CT findings.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the computed tomography (CT) findings of primary serous papillary carcinoma of the peritoneum.


METHODS
The clinical data and imaging studies of 36 women aged 37-85 years with primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum were retrospectively evaluated. Twenty-seven patients presented with general abdominal complaints; all had elevated levels of CA-125. Thirty-two women were post-menopausal, four had had bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.


RESULTS
The most common findings on pre-operative abdominal CT, performed in 30 patients, were a variable amount of ascites (n = 29), omental involvement (n = 28), irregular parietal peritoneum thickening (n = 22) and mural thickening of the sigmoid colon (n = 10). Thoracic findings included enlarged cardiophrenic nodes (n = 15) and pleural effusion (n = 11). Six patients had unilateral or bilateral adnexal masses of soft tissue density, which proved to be surface serous papillary carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Diffuse peritoneal disease on CT in patients with normal-sized ovaries or following bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with elevated level of serum CA-125, but without an identifiable primary tumour, should suggest the diagnosis of primary serous papillary carcinoma of the peritoneum. Associated adnexal masses or focal bowel wall thickening may be seen, representing surface involvement by this tumour.
Zissin
R
R
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Hertz
M
M
Shapiro-Feinberg
M
M
Bernheim
J
J
Altaras
M
M
Fishman
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018283:Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018394:CA-125 Antigen