Early stage ovarian carcinoma with symptoms mimicking tuberculous peritonitis in a postmenopausal woman

RATIONALE: Ovarian cancer has the poorest prognosis of the gynecological cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment are important, but early-stage ovarian carcinoma has nonspecific symptoms. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and serum CA-125 levels can be helpful but may not elucidate cases of diffuse peritoneal diseases mimicking carcinomatosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient had intermittent abdominal discomfort and dysuria. Abdominal-pelvic computed tomography findings were suspicious for peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) and a small cystic mass in the left ovary. The CA-125 values were normal. DIAGNOSES: She underwent laparoscopy for pathologic confirmation of tuberculous peritonitis and management of the ovary mass. Bilateral adnexectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a serous ovarian carcinoma in her left ovary and salpinx. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic hysterectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, para-aortic nodal dissection, and omentectomy were carried out for staging evaluation. OUTCOMES: We encountered a rare case of ovary cancer stage IA serous ovarian carcinoma incidentally discovered by laparoscopy in a postmenopausal woman. She received adjuvant chemotherapy without relapse. LESSONS: Peritoneal TB may mimic peritoneal or ovarian carcinoma, but the reverse case is rare. Hence, gynecologists should be careful in assessment of patients before treatment.