A Rare Case of Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor Mimicking Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is defined as bleeding that originates distal to the ligament of Treitz. Neoplasms causing lower gastrointestinal bleeding generally originate from the colon. A similar clinical picture can sometimes be caused by the invasion of the colon wall by intra-abdominal masses. Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are mesenchymal neoplasms composed of histologically and immunohistochemically epithelioid or spindle cells, with immunoreactive properties for smooth muscle and melanocytic markers. The differential diagnosis of patients being evaluated for an intra-abdominal mass should be made meticulously. In the presence of atypical signs, extra care should be taken. This paper reports a case of an ovarian malignant PEComa presenting with melena from an ulcerated lesion in the transverse colon.

Keywords

• gb100 protein
• melan-a
• melena
• perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms
• ulcer