Multidisciplinary Team Management of a Krukenberg TumorPresenting with Pleural Effusion: A Case Report

Abstract

Krukenberg tumors are a distinct form of ovarian metastasis, most commonly originating from gastrointestinal malignancies. Because primary lesions are often clinically silent, patients may present with atypical manifestations that delay diagnosis. We report a young woman who presented with isolated pleural effusion and was subsequently diagnosed with poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma with ovarian and peritoneal metastases. The etiology was clarified through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach, and combination therapy incorporating immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy resulted in marked clinical improvement. This case underscores the importance of considering metastatic gastrointestinal malignancies in the differential diagnosis of unexplained exudative pleural effusion with elevated tumor markers in young women and highlights the value of MDT-driven strategies in expediting diagnosis and guiding individualized management in advanced disease.