Pseudo-Meigs syndrome: a rare cause of abdominal ascites in a patient with an ovarian mass

Taylor Bowler; Mary Thomson; Sandhyarani Dasaraju

doi:10.1136/bcr-2024-263547

Pseudo-Meigs syndrome: a rare cause of abdominal ascites in a patient with an ovarian mass

BMJ Case Rep. 2025 Apr 3;18(4):e263547. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2024-263547.

Authors

Taylor Bowler¹, Mary Thomson², Sandhyarani Dasaraju³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA ahlbo009@umn.edu.
² Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
³ Department of Surgical Pathology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Abstract

Meigs syndrome is a rare phenomenon seen in approximately 1% of patients diagnosed with ovarian tumours. It is defined as a triad of a benign ovarian tumour, pleural effusion and ascites with complete resolution of symptoms following surgical intervention. This constellation of findings can be confused with several diagnoses, ranging from metastatic ovarian cancer to decompensated cirrhosis. Herein, we present a young woman presenting with new ascites, initially thought to be due to cirrhotic portal hypertension and found to have an atypical presentation of pseudo-Meigs syndrome, in the setting of a benign ovarian teratoma.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; Gynecological cancer.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Ascites* / diagnosis
Ascites* / etiology
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Meigs Syndrome* / complications
Meigs Syndrome* / diagnosis
Ovarian Neoplasms* / complications
Ovarian Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Ovarian Neoplasms* / surgery
Pleural Effusion
Teratoma* / complications
Teratoma* / diagnosis
Teratoma* / surgery

Supplementary concepts

Teratoma, Ovarian