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. 2014;5(10):706-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2014.08.012. Epub 2014 Aug 15.

Pandora's box and retrorectal tumors in laparoscopy: A case report and review of the literature

Sara Imboden  1 , Amal Al-Fana  2 , Annette Kuhn  2 , Michael D Mueller  2
Affiliations

Pandora's box and retrorectal tumors in laparoscopy: A case report and review of the literature

Sara Imboden et al. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2014.

Abstract

Introduction: Retrorectal tumors are uncommon and the etiology diverse. Literature to define the preoperative diagnosis and plan the intraoperative management are uncommon.

Presentation of case: We describe a case of a 44 year old patient with a laparoscopic approach for the removal of a retrorectal tumor and emphasize on the preoperative diagnostics and the intraoperative, minimal invasive approach.

Discussion: Especially because these tumors are rare and often an incidental finding in gynecologic surgery, it is important to know the various differential diagnoses and its consequences with the laparoscopic approach.

Conclusion: We suggest the laparoscopic approach in cases of retroperitoneal cysts of unknown origin is ideal also because anatomic structures, mostly nerves, can be easily spared.

Keywords: Laparoscopy; Retrorectal cyst; Tarlov cyst.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
MRI showing a 6 cm × 7 cm retrorectal tumor (♣).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Intraoperative findings: one star: ureter, two stars: sacrouterine ligament, dotted line: tumor.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
One star: tumor lying retrorectal after opening the peritoneum, two stars: sacrouterine ligament, three stars: ureter.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Splanchnic nerves.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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