Rare Intestinal Pouch Mimics Tumor in Older Patient

A South Carolina patient’s chronic pain and weight loss were traced to a rare, stone-filled congenital pouch.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Weight Loss

Rare Intestinal Pouch Mimics Tumor in Older Patient

Surgeons at the Medical University of South Carolina recently removed a 10.5-centimeter intestinal pouch, known as a Meckel’s diverticulum, that had been misidentified as an ovarian tumor. This case highlights how rare anatomical abnormalities can mimic gynecological masses in adults.

Why it matters

Understanding this rare mimicry is vital for clinical diagnosis, as Meckel’s diverticulum can cause chronic pain and weight loss that is easily attributed to other conditions. This report underscores why diagnostic imaging must be carefully contextualized alongside a patient’s full surgical history.

A case report describes a 70-year-old patient who presented with a 9-centimeter pelvic mass that proved to be a 10.5-centimeter Meckel’s diverticulum filled with stones. This congenital abnormality affects approximately 2% of the population, though complications are rare in older adults.

The players

Medical University of South Carolina

An academic health science center that provides specialized surgical and diagnostic services for complex cases.

The details

Meckel’s diverticulum is a small, pouch-like remnant of the fetal intestine that fails to close during development. In this case, researchers hypothesize that the patient’s prior gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy) altered bile flow, potentially creating the right environment for cholesterol-type stones to form within the stagnant pouch. Surgeons used a combined gynecologic oncology and general surgery approach to confirm the tissue was non-cancerous via a rapid frozen-section test before removal.

A 1996 radiology study reviewed 84 surgically confirmed cases of this condition.
The case report was published on April 20, 2026.

Health Landscape

While Meckel’s diverticulum is a common congenital abnormality, it is rarely diagnosed in patients in their 70s because most complications occur in childhood. This case adds to the small body of literature analyzing how prior abdominal surgeries can change the behavior of these hidden intestinal pouches.

If you have a history of unexplained abdominal pain or weight loss despite clear scans for common tumors, it may be worth discussing rare anatomical causes with your physician. Keeping a complete record of your prior surgeries is essential for helping doctors rule out uncommon remnants like a diverticulum.

The takeaway

This case shows that even common imaging tools can sometimes misidentify rare intestinal anomalies as gynecological issues. When dealing with persistent, unexplained digestive pain, ask your specialist if all potential anatomical sources—including congenital remnants—have been considered.