Tailgut cyst, an unusual cause of pseudomyxoma peritonei.
BACKGROUND
Retrorectal hamartoma, also known as tailgut cyst, is a rare tumor that arises from remnants of the embryonic postanal gut. The tumor occurs in the retrorectal space and may undergo malignant degeneration.


METHODS
The clinical information on a single patient with pseudomyxoma peritonei associated with a tailgut cyst was reviewed and a literature review of the subject performed.


RESULTS
In this patient there was malignant degeneration of a tailgut cyst localized to the pelvis. Twenty months later a local recurrence in the pelvis and pseudomyxoma peritonei widely distributed in the abdomen were successfully treated by cytoreductive surgery and perioperative chemotherapy. CONCLUSION; Tailgut cyst may, if resected with tumor spillage, result in pseudomyxoma peritonei. Our treatment--which has maintained a disease-free status for one year--was cytoreductive surgery plus perioperative chemotherapy.
Washington Cancer Institute, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
Luis
L
Zappa
Thomas A
TA
Godwin
Paul H
PH
Sugarbaker
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011553:Pseudomyxoma Peritonei / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents