A case of adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the rectum presented with symptoms of pelvic peritonitis

Abstract

Adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the digestive organs is a comparatively rare entity. This paper deals with a case of adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the rectum presented with symptoms of pelvic peritonitis. The patient was a 44–year–old woman, who was referred to the department of gynecology in our hospital with a suspicion of endometriosis by a gynecological hospital at where she had been treated for lower abdominal pain on an ambulant basis. Some inflammatory disease was suggested by magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans, but a possibility of gastrointestinal disorder could not be ruled out. Barium enema study, endoscopic study and biopsy were carried out, and squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum was resultantly diagnosed. No distant metastases were demonstrated. Low anterior resection of the rectum was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Despite postoperative chemotherapy and irradiation, the patient died on the 346^th day after the operation.