Abstract

DIAZ RIVERA, María Carolina; BUITRAGO-TORO, Kenny  and  GONZALES, Pablo. A Carcinoid Tumor of the Cecal Appendix: When an Incidental Finding Dramatically Modifies a Patient´s Prognosis and Treatment. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2017, vol.32, n.1, pp.72-74. ISSN 0120-9957.  https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.133.

Introduction: Appendectomies are widely used all over the world when there are signs and symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis and also for prophylactic resection. Study of the surgical specimen is frequent despite the low incidence of unusual findings. Tumors of the cecal appendix constitute 1% of all intestinal neoplasms. Among them, carcinoid tumors are the most frequent. Objective: We present a case of a carcinoid tumor of the cecal appendix found incidental to a prophylactic laparoscopic appendectomy during a gynecological procedure. Case report: A 58-year-old patient with a history of uterine myomatosis who had had a hysterectomy in 2010 consulted after two years of chronic pelvic pain. An appendectomy was performed because intraperitoneal adhesions from the surgery had affected the cecal appendix. The histopathological analysis identified a typical carcinoid tumor. Discussion: Carcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine neoplasms that can be found in various locations but which are most common in the gastrointestinal tract. Involvement of the cecal appendix is ​​not common and is usually detected incidental to prophylactic appendectomies. Identification of this type of neoplasia in a routine study drastically modifies patient management because management and follow-up depending on the tumor’s size, extent and location

Keywords : Carcinoid tumor; appendix neoplasia; cecal appendix; appendectomy.

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