A Case of Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma of the Appendix Diagnosed Preoperatively

Akio Odaka, Hiroshi Kanamaru*, Shin Takada, Mamoru Murata, Shunji Takagi

Second Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School
*Department of Surgery, Shisei Hospital

We report a case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix that was diagnosed preoperatively. A 76-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of pain in the umbilical region. The barium enema study revealed extrinsic compression in the ileocecal region. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a cystic tumor with a papillary elevated lesion in the right lower quadrant. Abdominal computed tomography showed a 7×5 cm cystic mass with curvilinear calcification in the ileocecal region. Colonoscopy showed a disk-like protrusion of the cecal mucosa around the orifice of the appendix, and whitish mucus drained through the orifice of the appendix. Based on these findings, we diagnosed this case as mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix and performed ileocecal resection with lymph node dissection. Histological findings demonstrated mucinous cystadenocarcinoma infiltrating the appendix wall. In Japan only 7 cases, including our case, have been diagnosed preoperatively as mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix. Ultrasonographic examination of the tumor cavity was most useful to diagnose our case.

Key words
mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, appendix

Reprint requests
Akio Odaka Second Department of Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School
1981 Tsujido-machi, Kamoda, Kawagoe, 350 JAPAN

Accepted
May 11, 1993

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