The key difference between Meigs and pseudo Meigs syndrome is that Meigs syndrome is an ovarian neoplastic disease characterized by the presence of benign ovarian fibroma or fibroma-like tumor, ascites, and pleural effusion, while pseudo Meigs syndrome is an ovarian neoplastic disease characterized by the presence of benign or malignant ovarian and pelvic tumors, ascites, and pleural effusion.
Meigs and pseudo Meigs syndrome are two rare ovarian neoplastic diseases. The formation of an abnormal mass of cells occurs when cells grow out of control, and it is called neoplasm. Neoplasms can be benign or malignant. A benign neoplasm can grow into a large mass, but they do not spread into nearby tissues. On the other hand, malignant neoplasm spreads to other parts of the body through blood and lymph systems. Ovarian neoplastic diseases (ovarian tumors) are abnormal growths on the ovaries.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Meigs Syndrome
3. What is Pseudo Meigs Syndrome
4. Similarities – Meigs and Pseudo Meigs Syndrome
5. Meigs vs Pseudo Meigs Syndrome in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Meigs vs Pseudo Meigs Syndrome
What is Meigs Syndrome?
Meigs syndrome is an ovarian neoplastic disease that is characterized by the presence of benign ovarian fibroma or fibroma-like tumors, ascites, and pleural effusion. Meigs syndrome is named after professor Joe Vincent Meigs, an American obstetrician and gynecologist who reported the first case in 1937. The symptoms of this condition may include fatigue, dyspnoea, pelvic pain, bloating, constipation, swollen abdomen with associated weight gain or weight loss, non-productive cough, and irregular menstruation. Meigs syndrome is caused by ovarian fibroma, Brenner tumor, ovarian thecoma, or granulose cell tumor.
Figure 01: Fibroma of the Ovary
Meigs syndrome can be diagnosed through blood tests (testing of cancer antigen; CA125 in the serum), chest projection imaging (CXR), abdominal ultrasound, CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, MRI of the pelvis, ECG, and echocardiogram. Furthermore, treatment options for Meigs syndrome may include the surgical removal of the tumor (full laparotomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, wedge resection, or abdominal hysterectomy).
What is Pseudo Meigs Syndrome?
Pseudo Meigs syndrome is an ovarian neoplastic disease that is characterized by the presence of a benign or malignant ovarian and pelvic tumors, ascites, and pleural effusion. The ovarian tumors in this condition may include those of the fallopian tube, uterus, round ligament, mature teratomas, struma ovarii, or ovarian leiomyomas. Pseudo Meigs syndrome usually occurs in patients who have systematic lupus. Secondary ovarian tumors from colorectal, gastrointestinal metastases also cause Pseudo Meigs syndrome
Pseudo Meigs syndrome is normally not associated with a fibroma or a fibroma-like tumor. The symptoms of this condition may include dyspnea, pelvic mass with or without tender, distended abdomen, and weight loss. Moreover, pseudo Meigs syndrome can be diagnosed through pelvic or abdominal examination, CT scan, and MRI blood tests (testing or cancer antigen CA125 in the serum). Furthermore, treatment options for Pseudo Meigs syndrome may include total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
What are the Similarities Between Meigs and Pseudo Meigs Syndrome?
- Meigs and pseudo Meigs syndrome are two rare ovarian neoplastic diseases.
- They account for 1-2 % of total ovarian cancers.
- Both conditions are found in women.
- They can be benign.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed with imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
- They are treated through surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Meigs and Pseudo Meigs Syndrome?
Meigs syndrome is an ovarian neoplastic disease characterized by the presence of benign ovarian fibroma or fibroma-like tumor, ascites, and pleural effusion, while pseudo Meigs syndrome is an ovarian neoplastic disease characterized by the presence of benign or malignant ovarian and pelvic tumors, ascites, and pleural effusion. Thus, this is the key difference between Meigs and pseudo Meigs syndrome. Furthermore, Meigs syndrome is caused by ovarian fibroma, Brenner tumor, ovarian thecoma, or granulose cell tumor, while pseudo Meigs syndrome is caused by conditions like systematic lupus or secondary ovarian tumors from colorectal gastrointestinal metastases.
The following table summarizes the difference between Meigs and pseudo Meigs syndrome.
Summary – Meigs vs Pseudo Meigs Syndrome
Meigs and pseudo Meigs syndrome are two rare ovarian neoplastic diseases. Ovarian neoplastic diseases are abnormal growths on the ovaries. Meigs syndrome and pseudo Meigs syndrome are two such diseases. Meigs syndrome is characterized by the presence of benign ovarian fibroma or fibroma-like tumor, ascites, and pleural effusion. In contrast, pseudo Meigs syndrome is characterized by the presence of benign or malignant ovarian and pelvic tumors, ascites, and pleural effusion. So, this is the key difference between Meigs and pseudo Meigs syndrome.
Reference:
1. “Meigs’ Syndrome.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. Saha, Sumi, and Meiri Robertson. “Meigs’ and Pseudo-Meigs’ Syndrome.” Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Fibroma of the Ovary” By Ed Uthman, MD – (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia