A Case of Endocrine Cell Carcinoma of the Appendix

Kenichi Sakamoto, Takahiko Fukuchi*, Naoki Futamura*, Kuniyasu Shimokawa**

Department of Surgery, Municipal Kisogawa Hospital
*First Department of Surgery, Gifu University School of Medicine
**Clinical Laboratory, Gifu University School of Medicine

We report a case of endocrine cell carcinoma (ECC) arising in the appendix diagnosed as recurrence following appendectomy. The patient was a 65-year-old man who received an appendectomy and had been diagnosed as having carcinoid of the appendix located in the central region of the appendix 6 years earlier. He was admitted to the hospital complaining of right lower abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. He was diagnosed as having recurrence of the carcinoid arising in the appendix or a small intestine tumor and an operation was performed. The tumor was found to have infiltrated the submucosal layer of the ascending colon, cecum and terminal ileum. Tumor cells showed cellular and structural atypia to a high-degree and positivity for Grimelius' stain. Defining this case as a recurrence was considered adequate from reexamination of specimens from the previous appendectomy. It was suggested that keeping in mind the existence of a group of patients having a poor prognosis is significant in the diagnosis and treatment of carcinoid arising in the appendix.

Key words
endocrine cell carcinoma of appendix, carcinoid

Reprint requests
Kenichi Sakamoto Department of Surgery I, Gifu University School of Medicine
40 Tsukasa-machi, Gifu, 500 JAPAN

Accepted
September 9, 1997

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