Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2013; 5(6): 207-209
Published online Jun 27, 2013. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v5.i6.207
Laparoscopic appendectomy for appendiceal mucocele in an 83 years old woman
Cemal Kaya, Pinar Yazici, Sinan Omeroglu, Mehmet Mihmanli
Cemal Kaya, Pinar Yazici, Sinan Omeroglu, Mehmet Mihmanli, Department of General Surgery, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34371, Turkey
Author contributions: Kaya C made substantial contributions to the conception, design and acquisition of data; Yazici P drafted the article and revised it critically for important intellectual content; Kaya C and Omeroglu S were attending doctors for the patient; Mihmanli M gave final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Pinar Yazici, MD, Department of General Surgery, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Halaskargazi Cad., Etfal Sokak, Istanbul 34371, Turkey. drpinaryazici@gmail.com
Telephone: +90-212-3735000 Fax: +90-212-2240772
Received: March 3, 2013
Revised: April 16, 2013
Accepted: May 18, 2013
Published online: June 27, 2013
Abstract

Mucocele of the appendix is an uncommon but potentially dangerous pathological entity that presents in a variety of ways. Therefore, optimal surgical therapy is controversial; while some authors adopt a simple appendectomy, others recommend extensive resection, such as right hemicolectomy. We report the case of an 83 years old woman who presented with cystic neoformation in the right iliac fossa that was preoperatively considered an appendiceal mass. We electively performed a laparoscopic resection that histological examination defined as a mucinous cystadenoma. No recurrence was observed in the follow-up period of 9 mo.

Keywords: Appendiceal tumor, Laparoscopy, Mucocele, Minimal invasive surgery

Core tip: This report calls the clinician’s attention to the fact that patients presenting with chronic lower right quadrant pain may be diagnosed with appendiceal tumors, particularly elderly patients, as was the case in our report. Since the elderly patient population usually has co-morbid conditions, minimal invasive procedures should be considered after preoperative diagnostic procedures to confirm the absence of advanced tumors.