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Review
. 2016 Mar 5:14:64.
doi: 10.1186/s12957-016-0828-2.

A giant mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix: a case report and review of the literature

Affiliations
Review

A giant mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix: a case report and review of the literature

Hiroshi Nagata et al. World J Surg Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is the second most common etiology of appendiceal mucocele. We report a relatively rare case of a giant appendiceal mucocele caused by mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, which occupied the entire abdomen of an adult woman.

Case presentation: A 63-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of abdominal distention. Imaging studies showed a giant cystic mass occupying her entire abdomen. Laparotomy confirmed a giant appendiceal mucocele, and the patient underwent ileocecal resection. A mucinous deposit was not found in her abdominal cavity, and the ovaries were grossly normal bilaterally. The pathological diagnosis was mucinous adenocarcinoma with a low-grade mucinous neoplasm that invaded the subserosa. Regional lymph node metastasis was not found. She has had recurrence-free survival for 5 years.

Conclusions: The present case is the largest appendiceal cystadenocarcinoma ever reported. The optimal treatment of an appendiceal neoplasm requires further research based on consensus terminology of an appendiceal mucocele.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a well-encapsulated, unilocular cystic mass which occupied the entire abdomen from just below the diaphragm to the pelvis. Arrow showed a dendritic structure protruding into the tumor cavity
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a giant unilocular cystic mass with high signal intensity on T2-weighted images (a) and intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images (b)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a A cross-section of the mass showed a cystically dilated lumen with the portion protruding from the appendiceal lumen (arrow). b A magnified view of the dendritic structure which appeared as a villous tumor
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a Microscopical view of the tumor showed a mucinous adenocarcinoma, and a low-grade mucinous neoplasm is intermingled (hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×20). b Adenocarcinoma is observed to invade the subserosa of the appendix (hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×50)

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