Case Report
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2005. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2005; 11(30): 4761-4763
Published online Aug 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i30.4761
Giant appendiceal mucocele: Report of a case and brief review
Bernardino Rampone, Franco Roviello, Daniele Marrelli, Enrico Pinto
Bernardino Rampone, Franco Roviello, Daniele Marrelli, Enrico Pinto, Department of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, University of Siena, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Franco Roviello, Via De Gasperi, 5, Siena 53100, Italy. roviello@unisi.it
Telephone: +39-577585157 Fax: +39-577585157
Received: October 19, 2004
Revised: January 1, 2005
Accepted: January 5, 2005
Published online: August 14, 2005
Abstract

Mucocele of the appendix is a rare lesion, characterized by distension of the lumen due to accumulation of mucoid substance. This disease is often asymptomatic and pre-operative diagnosis is rare. If untreated, one type of mucocele may rupture producing a potentially fatal entity known as pseudomyxoma peritonei. The type of surgical treatment is related to the dimensions and to histology of the mucocele. Appendectomy is used for simple mucocele or for cystadenoma. Right hemi-colectomy is recommended for cystadenocarcinoma. In this paper, we report a case of a 51-year-old woman with a mobile, painless mass in the right lower quadrant of abdomen caused by a giant appendiceal mucocele. Imaging showed a large, tubular, cystic structure extending below from the inferior wall of the cecum. Surgery revealed a giant retro-cecal appendix measuring 17 cm in length and 4 cm in diameter. The final pathologic diagnosis was mucocele caused by mucinous cystadenoma.

Keywords: Appendix, Mucocele, Pseudomyxoma peritonei, Surgical treatment