Abdominal cancer and gastric bypass: think in Petersen

A diagnosis of a colorectal or ovarian cancer is a therapeutic challenge still nowadays. The treatment usually is based on a combination of surgery and chemotherapy with a clear improvement in the outcome. The follow-up of these patients is clearly established, but in some situations related to other abdominal characteristics the conclusions can be distorted

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is one of the techniques of choice in patients with morbid obesity, where the stomach is “disconnected” as a food container and the small bowel is used to maintain the digestive transit. One of the problems derived from this procedure is the introduction of a segment of intestine into the “Petersen´s space”. The most common symptom is abdominal pain and is a real dangerous situation if it is not properly detected. Another problem is the evaluation of the tumor because when the patient is affected by this problem is really difficult to consider if there is a tumoral persistence or not, because it is not uncommon to see some peritoneal fluid and minor lymphadenopaties.

Conclusion: Abdominal cancer+Gastric bypass+abdominal pain: think in Petersen