15100              SARCOMA ATTACHED TO COLONIC DIVERTICULUM

The patient was a man aged 68.  Three and a half years previously a meningioma in the left cerebello-pontine angle was partly excised.  Nine months later he developed indigestion and a large right-sided abdominal mass was found.  At laparotomy this proved to be a massive neurogenic sarcoma.  It was partly removed, an ileo-transverse colostomy was performed and radiotherapy was given.  Eighteen months later the mass recurred and at his final admission it had become very large and filled most of the abdomen.  Abdominal distension increased and he died.  At post-mortem a very large firm retroperitoneal tumour was present with very little ascitic fluid.  The sigmoid colon emerged from the tumour and a pedunculated mass was attached to it in one place.

The specimen shows this sarcomatous mass which measures 6 x 4 x 5 cms.  It is attached to the peritoneal surface of a colonic diverticulum, the lumen of which can be seen in the centre of the mass.  Several other diverticula are also visible.  Histology shows a cellular slightly pleomorphic fibrosarcoma.  Mitotic figures are moderately common.  There are occasional multinucleated cells.