Ileus in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix – case report

Introduction: Globally, uterine cervical cancer is fourth most common cancer in the female genital tract. Squamous cell carcinomas account for approximately 80% of malignant tumors of the uterine cervix. Cervical cancer commonly spreads to the lymph nodes but can also spread to other areas, such as the lungs, bones, and liver or locally to the rectum or bladder. In this case report, we present a 43-year-old woman diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix and treated by hysterectomy with following radiotherapy. At a subsequent exploration of the abdominal cavity on the occasion of appendectomy three months after the radical surgical intervention and radiotherapy, no macroscopic secondary lesions were found in the abdominal cavity. Three months later, the patient was hospitalized due to acute intestinal obstruction with external compression of the sigmoid colon. Total carcinomatosis of parietal and visceral peritoneum was found intraoperatively. Discussion: The prognosis of patients with cervical cancer after the development of metastasis is usually poor. Peritoneal carcinomatosis is characterized by high mortality and, most often presents by progression to acute intestinal obstruction as a result of total carcinomatosis. Treatment options include all modalities of cancer treatment. Surgery followed by palliative chemotherapy and local radiotherapy are the general treatments offered to patients.