Retroperitoneal mullerian carcinosarcoma associated with endometriosis: a case report

Background. Mixed mullerian tumors are rare malignancies of the female genital tract and extremely uncommon in extragenital sites. Case. A 71-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of left-sided pelvic pain. Significant history included total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy performed 19 years earlier for benign indications; she had no history of endometriosis. Bimanual exam and pelvic ultrasonography demonstrated a 6 x 5 x 6 cm complex mass in the left pelvis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a retroperitoneal mass encasing the left ureter. The mass was debulked, necessitating resection of the distal ureter and ureteroneocystotomy. Histopathology demonstrated carcinosarcoma associated with endometriosis. Conclusion. Extragenital carcinosarcoma is a rare malignancy, with only one well-documented case associated with peritoneal endometriosis. We report a case of an extragenital retroperitoneal carcinosarcoma associated with endometriosis. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.