Tuboovarian abscess mimicking malignancy: Report of two cases

Tuboovarian abscess is a well-known sequela of acute or chronic salpingitis . In a small percentage of patients, these inflammatory masses compress or even rupture into the adjacent viscera, thus simulating the condition of pe lvic malignancy, particularly when the clinical presentations are indolent. We describe two cases of tuboovarian abscess mimicking malignancy. Case 1: A 39-year-old woman with an intrauterine device had a clinical presentatio n mimicking an exophytic submucosal colorectal tumor with suspicious mucosa l invasion. She complained of tenesmus but did not experience fever or adne xal tenderness. A right tuboovarian abscess with fistula formation into the rectosigmoid colon was noted during laparotomy. Case 2: A 46-year-old woma n with an intrauterine device had a preoperative diagnosis of uterine myoma with degeneration. At laparotomy, an omentum cake with dense pelvic adhesi ons was noted. Malignancy appeared to be present, and debulking surgery was performed. The final pathologic examination revealed bilateral chronic tub oovarian abscesses and focal omental abscess.