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At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Laparoscopic appendectomy: three-puncture technique with suspension of the appendix in nineteen cases.

Nineteen laparoscopic appendectomies by the same general surgeon are reported, using three trocar sites and suspending the appendix along the right lower quadrant trocar. This approach provides a fourth access site to the appendix without an additional port. Once the position of the appendix is stabilized, the two available ports are used to dissect around the base of the mesoappendix and place a silk ligature with extracorporeal ligating technique. All 19 procedures were completed by endoscopic means and without the use of endoscopic stapling devices, even when the mesoappendix was markedly swollen and edematous. The technique is presented here as an alterative method when performing laparoscopic appendectomy.

Appendectomy↗

Goblet cell carcinoids and related tumors of the vermiform appendix.

Appendiceal carcinoids with glandular differentiation pose difficulties in classification and prediction of clinical behavior. Sixty-four such cases were divided into three histologic groups on the basis of routine and immunohistochemical stains: (1) Tubular carcinoids were small and confined to the appendix, had small amounts of intraluminal mucin with few or no goblet cells, were nonargentaffin, lacked serotonin, and were diffusely positive for glucagon. All ten with follow-up (mean, 17 months) were without metastasis. (2) Goblet cell carcinoids were confined to the appendix and mesoappendix, circumferentially surrounded the appendiceal lumen, and were often not suspected grossly. Histologically, they were often mixed with small crypt-like glands and were serotonin positive. All 22 with follow-up (mean, 19 months) were without metastasis whether or not right hemicolectomy was performed. (3) Mixed carcinoid-adenocarcinomas showed spread into the cecum or adjacent viscera at the time of diagnosis and had a large carcinomatous pattern with areas of mucinous, signet-ring, or single-file structure, in addition to goblet cell or insular carcinoid. All patients had right hemicolectomies, and all but two with follow-up died of the disease (mean, 16 months). Although a histologic spectrum exists among carcinoid tumors and certain adenocarcinomas of the appendix, it is possible to delineate three biologically distinct groups. Surgical margins should be taken of all appendices because these tumors often do not form discrete masses.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Association of perforation of the appendix with female tubal infertility.

Although perforation of the appendix is considered a risk factor for female tubal infertility, the epidemiologic evidence supporting this relation is inconsistent. Risk factors for tubal infertility were compared for 121 women with documented primary tubal infertility attending in vitro fertilization clinics in Toronto, Canada, from July to December 1998 and 490 controls who were pregnant during the same time period. Self-administered questionnaires and review of medical records were used to assess exposures. The authors found that neither history of acute appendicitis nor perforation of the appendix was a statistically significant risk factor for tubal infertility. The crude odds ratio for perforated appendicitis was 3.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9, 12.9), and the adjusted odds ratio was 1.4 (95% CI: 0.3, 6.2). In addition to increased age and annual income, cigarette smoking (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.2), history of endometriosis (OR = 6.0, 95% CI: 2.8,12.8), and history of pelvic inflammatory disease (OR = 6.0, 95% CI: 2.8, 12.8) were significantly associated with tubal infertility in multivariate analysis. These data do not provide substantial evidence that perforation of the appendix is an important risk factor for female tubal infertility.

Adult↗

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the appendix: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of four cases.

Mesenchymal tumors of the appendix are very rare, and specific stromal tumors (i.e., gastrointestinal stromal tumors, GISTs) have not been reported in this location to date. Four GISTs were identified in the review of primary mesenchymal tumors of the appendix from the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1970 to 1998. There were also one benign schwannoma, one diffuse neurofibroma with neurofibromatosis 1, one leiomyosarcoma in a child with HIV infection, and one inflammatory fibroid polyp. The four appendiceal GISTs occurred in adult males 56-72 years of age (mean 63 years). Two tumors occurred in patients who had surgery for appendicitis-like symptoms: one was an incidental finding during surgery for a malignant gastric epithelioid GIST and one was an incidental autopsy finding. Only one of the two appendices operated for symptoms had acute inflammation, and a polypoid GIST projected outward from the proximal part of appendix. Three tumors were partially obliterating nodules, eccentrically expanding the appendiceal wall. All four were spindle cell tumors, and three of them contained extracellular collagen globules (skeinoid fibers); none had atypia or mitotic activity (<1/50 high power fields). Immunohistochemically, two tumors studied were positive for CD117 (KIT), and two were positive for CD34. The tumors were negative for alpha-smooth muscle actin and S-100 protein. Follow-up revealed death from cardiovascular disease in one case (4 years after appendectomy) and liver failure because of malignant gastric epithelioid GIST metastatic to liver in another case 15 years after the appendectomy. This report documents the rare occurrence of CD117-positive GISTs as primary appendiceal tumors.

Aged↗

Carcinoid tumors of the appendix.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study of 41 patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of appendix carcinoid tumors was undertaken by reviewing the surgical records at Massachusetts General Hospital. METHODS: There were 8 male and 33 female patients (mean age 32 years). Twenty-two patients (54%) presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis. In 19 patients (46%) the lesions were discovered incidentally. The tumors were located in 32 patients at the tip, in 6 patients in the middle third, and in 3 patients at the base of the appendix. The tumor was less than 1 cm in diameter in 32 patients, between 1 and 2 cm in 7 patients, and was bigger than 2 cm in 2 patients. In 29 patients, the depth of tumor penetration was confined to the submucosa or to the muscle layers of the appendix, and in 8 patients the serosa was involved. In 4 patients, evidence of tumor extension into the meso-appendicular fat was present, including one patient with a tumor bigger than 2 cm and local lymph-node metastases. Forty patients underwent appendectomy alone. One patient with a tumor size bigger than 2 cm in diameter with positive lymph nodes in the mesoappendix underwent secondary right hemicolectomy. Complete follow-up was achieved in 35 patients, and all patients remained free of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that appendiceal carcinoids are rare and most often are asymptomatic. Tumors of less than 1 cm are adequately managed by appendectomy alone. The appropriate treatment for tumors of 1 to 2 cm continues to be controversial. Right hemicolectomy is recommended for all tumors larger than 2 cm, whereas preference for an aggressive approach should be given in young patients.

Adult↗

Primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix in an inguinal hernia.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix and primary carcinomata within hernial sacs are both uncommon clinical problems. A previously undescribed presentation of primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix in a right sided sliding inguinal hernia is presented and discussed. It is important to follow up patients with carcinoma of the appendix in order to exclude other colonic lesions. The St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne) experience in this condition is limited but parallels that of major series elsewhere.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Level of aggregation for optimal epidemiological analysis: the case of time to surgery and unnecessary removal of the normal appendix.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the concept of "individualised fallacy", the result of improper interpretation and inference about aggregate level associations on the basis of associations at the individual level, in epidemiology. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Canadian province of Ontario. PATIENTS: All patients who underwent primary appendicectomy in 175 Ontario hospitals from 1989 to 1992. The association between rate of normal appendix removal and time to surgery was analysed at two levels: (1) at individual patient level, in which, for each patient, the exact number of days to surgery was derived, and (2) at hospital level, in which hospital specific proportions of time to surgery was calculated. MAIN RESULTS: Measured at individual level, compared with patients who had an operation on the same day of admission, the odds ratio was 2.41 (95% confidence intervals 2.28, 2.56) for patients who had an operation > 1 day after admission. Measured at hospital level, each 10% increase in the proportion of patients who had an operation > 1 day after admission resulted in a 15% reduction in the odds of normal appendix removal (odds ratio 0.85, 95% confidence intervals 0.82, 0.88) CONCLUSIONS: In this case study, hospital level measure correctly predicted a reduction in the rate of normal appendix removal by delaying surgery, whereas individual level measure biased the direction of the relation to the opposite. This example illustrates that bias in across level inference can occur either at individual or ecological level. The preferred level of analysis is the one that minimises confounding; often, it must be selected on the basis of a priori knowledge of the subject area.

Adolescent↗

Crohn's disease of the appendix: remission obtained by total parenteral nutrition.

A woman, aged 37 years, who had been suffering from advanced Crohn's disease for many years, was treated with long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN), given in two 2-month periods at an interval of 6 months. Prior to the introduction of TPN there was inflammation of the appendix, the terminal ileum, and the entire colon. During the first period of TPN there was a temporary clinical and radiological improvement in the state of the intestinal tract, including the appendix. Two months after the first period of TPN abdominal pain recurred, and colonoscopy disclosed renewed severe inflammation of the mucosa from the cecum to the rectum. At operation, on day 45 of the second period of TPN, due to remaining stenosis of the terminal ileum, there was no longer any inflammation of the appendix, confirmed by histological examination.

Adult↗

Cancer of the appendix in long-standing ulcerative colitis: a case report.

Cancer of the appendix was found in a 69-year-old female patient affected by long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC). On histological examination the cancer was a typical cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix. The appendiceal mucosa not invaded by the neoplastic process was normal. Histological examination of the colorectal mucosa did not show dysplasia or cancer. These findings suggest that appendiceal cancer and UC may be unrelated diseases. A surveillance program for early detection of cancer of the appendix in patients with long-standing UC does not seem mandatory.

Aged↗

Cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix: an incidental imaging finding in a patient with adenocarcinomas of the ascending and the sigmoid colon.

BACKGROUND: Primary adenocarcinomas of the appendix are uncommon. Mucoceles that result from mucinous adenocarcinomas of the appendix may be incidentally detected on imaging. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of a mucocele of the appendix, due to cystadenocarcinoma, is presented as an incidental imaging finding in a female, 86-year-old patient. The patient was admitted due to rectal hemorrhage and underwent colonoscopy, x-ray, US and CT. Adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon, adenomatous polyp of the sigmoid colon and a cystic lesion in the right iliac fossa were diagnosed. The cystic lesion was characterized as mucocele. The patient underwent right hemicolectomy, excision of the mucocele and sigmoidectomy. She recovered well and in two-year follow-up is free from cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative diagnosis of an underlying malignancy in a mucocele is important for patient management, but it is difficult on imaging studies. Small lymph nodes or soft tissue stranding in the surrounding fat on computed tomography examination may suggest the possibility of malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Necrotic gangrenous intrathoracic appendix in a marfanoid adult patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A diaphragmatic hernia is defined as a defect in part of the diaphragm through which abdominal contents can protrude into the thorax. It may be congenital or acquired. In this case report, we aim to demonstrate a congenital diaphragmatic hernia in an adult marfanoid patient which required emergency treatment CASE PRESENTATION: A 43 year old woman was admitted with classical appendicitis requiring surgery. She incidentally had Marfan's clinical features with a positive family history for the syndrome. At operation she had grossly abnormal abdominal anatomy. Radiological investigations demonstrated a large right congenital diaphragmatic hernia with an intrathoracic hernial sac containing a perforated gangrenous appendix. The hernial sac was opened surgically and the appendix excised. The patient made a full recovery. CONCLUSION: Diaphragmatic hernias are usually congenital in nature often requiring early corrective surgery for future survival. We have demonstrated the presence of an unusually large diaphragmatic defect, almost a hemidiaphragmatic defect, of unknown direct etiology, but of some possible association with Marfan's syndrome in an adult patient presenting with an acute perforated gangrenous appendix requiring emergency life-saving surgery.

Abdomen↗

Mucocele of the appendix secondary to endometriosis. Report of two cases, one with localized pseudomyxoma peritonei.

This report documents 2 cases of obstructive mucocele of the appendix secondary to endometriosis of the appendix. In 1 case, the tip of the mucocele was ruptured and associated with localized pseudomyxoma peritonei. Mucoceles of the appendix usually are associated with hyperplastic or neoplastic mucosal proliferation; obstruction, particularly that due to endometriosis, is an infrequent cause. Occurrence of localized pseudomyxoma peritonei associated with appendiceal endometriosis and mucocele has not been reported previously.

Adult↗

Expression of E-cadherin, b-catenin, and Ki-67 in goblet cell carcinoids of the appendix: an immunohistochemical study with clinical correlation.

Goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) of the appendix is a rare entity, of which both the histogenesis and biologic behavior remain controversial, and prognostic tools and therapeutic strategies for this unusual tumor have yet to be defined. The aim of this study was to analyze expression of E-cadherin and b-catenin in GCCs of the appendix with long-term follow-up data as related to the expression of Ki-67 proliferation marker to provide a rationale for treatment guidelines. We analyzed the expression of E-cadherin, b-catenin, and Ki-67 in 11 GCCs of the appendix and control groups of typical carcinoids of the large intestine (n = 29), well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas of the colon (n = 10), poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas of the colon (n = 12), and normal appendiceal tissues (n = 10). There was no significant difference between the GCCs and normal appendiceal tissues regarding the expression of E-cadherin or b-catenin (p = 0.297 and 0.103, respectively). The percentage of positive GCC cells ranged between 0.52 and 10.35% (4.27 +/- 0.80), and only one case had a score >10%. Metastatic tumor spread and death were found in high MIB-1 labeling index (LI) cases of GCC (>3%). Our findings suggest that the behavior of the majority of GCCs might be indolent and different from adenocarcinomas because of the preserved expression of E-cadherin and b-catenin and relatively low MIB-1 LI. However, some of these tumors act aggressively and MIB-1 LI might be a good parameter to determine the therapeutic procedure.

Adult↗

Metastasis to appendix from lung adenocarcinoma.

We previously read with interest the case report by Filik et al. (International Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer, 2003;34:55-58) on appendicular metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We would like to share our recent experience.A 64-yr-old man presented with a 2-d history of progressively increasing colicky abdominal pain and fever. His past medical history included a pneumonectomy of the left lung for locally advanced lung adenocarcinoma 9 mo previously. TNM stage of the original lung cancer was T2N2M0. On examination, his abdomen was slightly distended and he had an intermittent metallic bowel sound. Abdominal CT scan showed a low-density mass, 3 cm in diameter, in the right pelvic cavity. Endoscopic evaluation revealed no obstruction, but failed to identify mucosal abnormalities in the ileocecal region. Chest CT scan prior to surgery did not show any evidence of pulmonary recurrence or metastasis. He underwent a laparotomy, and tumor of the appendix, 3 x 3 cm in diameter, adhered to the surrounding tissue, but no perforation was seen. The mass was excised in combination with an ileocecal resection, followed by ileocolic anastomosis. Hisotologically, the neoplastic tumor cells infiltrated the submucosa, muscularis, and serosa, but mucosa of the appendix was intact, unremarkable, with no precursor lesion. The tumor was morphologically similar to the lung primary tumor. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. He was examined at regular periodic follow-ups, but died from lung cancer 12 mo after the resection of the metastatic tumor to the appendix.

Abdominal Pain↗

A case of primary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix with elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

We report a 69-year-old female patient with mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix and elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Serum CEA levels were 27.6-37.8 ng/ml. An oval shaped cystic mass at the ileocecal region was consistently seen by several radiologic procedures such as, barium enema, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The tumor was resected, and the histopathologic findings indicated mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix. CEA was demonstrated in the neoplastic columnar cells in immunohistochemical studies. The literature on the determination of serum CEA level in adenocarcinoma of the appendix is reviewed.

Aged↗

Retained barium n the appendix: diagnostic and clinical significance.

The significance of prolonged retention of barium in the appendix in an asymptomatic patient has been debated. Four patients, with retained barium in the appendix for several months after gastrointestinal barium studies, who then developed acute appendicitis, are reported and analyzed. Thirty-one patients who retained appendiceal barium longer than 72 hr after radiographic examination of the gastrointestinal tract were followed for over 1 year. No patient developed appendicitis. Five patients underwent abdominal surgery for other indications and there was no evidence of appendicitis. In 11 patients, who had abdominal radiographs 6 days to 4 months after detection of appendiceal barium, the barium had disappeared. The connotation of the term "barium appendicitis" as initially reported is questioned. Preliminary data in this report suggest that no causal relationship exists between prolonged retention of barium and future acute appendicitis and that normal appendices can expel barium in variable time periods. Etiologic connotation between prolonged appendiceal barium retention and future acute appendicitis should be erased. Retained barium in the appendix can be used as an acid in the precise radiographic diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Adult↗

Involvement of the appendix in a relapsed case of primary nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

We report here a 20-year-old man presenting with primary nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma which showed an aggressive clinical course spreading to the spleen and skin despite various treatments. Eight months after high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, acute appendicitis with perforation occurred and the patient underwent appendectomy. The histopathological diagnosis was NK/T-cell lymphoma of the appendix. Lymphoma of the appendix is extremely rare and the majority of appendiceal lymphomas are of B-cell origin. This is the first report of involvement of appendix by nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Adult↗

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix associated with adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon and hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver: report of a case.

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix is a rare condition and represents one of the three entities with the common name mucocele of the appendix. It is characterized by a cystic dilatation of the lumen with stasis of mucus inside it. Histopathologically mucocele is divided into three groups: focal or diffuse mucosal hyperplasia, mucinous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. This condition is often associated with other neoplasia, especially adenocarcinoma of the colon and ovaries. We here describe a 57 year old male patient who presented with abdominal discomfort, constipation, fresh blood in stool and frequent urination. He had a big cystadenoma of the appendix associated with adenocarcinoma of the colon and hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver. The patient underwent right haemicolectomy, sigmoid colon resection and segmental resection of the liver. Now 3 years later he has no evidence of disease relapse. According to this, we stress the need of accurate preoperative diagnosis and intraoperative exploration of the whole abdomen in these patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗