Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystic neoplasm of borderline malignancy with KRAS and GNAS co-mutation: a case report

Abstract

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystic neoplasms are rare retroperitoneal tumors, which are histologically similar to mucinous cystic neoplasms of the ovaries. Only 31 cases of primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystic neoplasm with borderline malignancy (PRMCN-BM) have been reported (26 in women and five in men). We describe an additional male patient with PRMCN-BM. A 39-year-old man presented to our hospital with back pain. Twelve years earlier, he had undergone an orchiectomy for a germ cell tumor. Computed tomography showed a 6.9- × 4.4-cm cystic mass in the left pararenal space. Laparoscopic mass excision was performed, and a unilocular cystic mass was found in the pararenal space near the lower pole of the left kidney. A histopathological examination showed a cyst lined by atypical mucinous intestinal epithelium without stromal invasion. Targeted next-generation sequencing identified two hotspot mutations, with one each in the KRAS and GNAS genes. Outpatient follow-up 10 months after surgery showed no evidence of tumor recurrence. PRMCNs are extremely rare retroperitoneal neoplasms, especially in men. These neoplasms are rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of retroperitoneal masses, and their preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Evaluation of additional patients is required to better determine the prognosis of PRMCNs and the optimal postoperative follow-up.