A. Brand et al., PRIMARY AND RECURRENT COLORECTAL-CANCER MASQUERADING AS GYNECOLOGICALMALIGNANCY, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 36(2), 1996, pp. 165-167
To make clinicians more aware of the phenomenon of primary and recurre
nt colorectal and anal carcinoma masquerading as primary gynaecologica
l malignancy, we reviewed the records of 8 women referred to our gynae
cological oncology unit with primary colorectal cancer (1), recurrent
colorectal cancer (6) and primary anal cancer (1). Seven of these pati
ents presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge. All patien
ts had Papanicolaou smears performed; 7 were abnormal and 1 unsuitable
for cytological assessment. None of the 6 patients with recurrent car
cinoma had been previously treated with more than standard anterior or
abdominoperineal resection; no radiotherapy had been given, and only
1 patient had received chemotherapy. These patients were treated in ou
r gynaecological oncology unit for their recurrence by surgery and/or
chemotherapy and/or irradiation. All 6 had further recurrences in the
pelvis despite this aggressive therapy. Follow-up of colorectal cancer
in women should involve gynaecological history, pelvirectal examinati
on and Pap smear at each visit. Correct diagnosis of the colorectal or
igin of a genital tract tumour is made on careful history, examination
and biopsy. An abnormal Pap smear may be the first indication of recu
rrent colorectal cancer in the cervix and vagina, although most patien
ts ultimately present with abnormal vaginal bleeding. The presence of
a tumour invading both cervix and posterior vaginal wall is suggestive
of spread from a colorectal tumour compared to the more common latera
l spread of a cervical primary.