Giant appendiceal mucocele: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Appendiceal mucocele is a rare condition characterised by cystic dilatation of the lumen of the appendix. Whenever possible it is essential to identify the disease pre-operatively by full clinical assessment and thorough investigations including abdominal CT scan and colonoscopy or barium enema. Accurate diagnosis helps to plan for a careful resection to remove the mass without spillage of the cyst contents, which can lead to the most dreaded complication of pseudomyxoma peritonei. In this paper we report on a rare case of giant mucocele of the appendix and review the relevant literature.