Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of an appendiceal mucocele: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Appendiceal mucocele is a rare disease that causes obstructive dilatation of the appendix due to the intraluminal accumulation of mucin. We report a case of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of an appendiceal mucocele.

CASE SUMMARY

A 47-year-old man presented with a protrusion around the orifice of the appendix discovered by colonoscopy incidentally. He was admitted to our hospital for a routine checkup without any symptoms. Abdominal computed tomography showed a cystic mass approximately 3 cm in diameter with fat stranding. The preoperative diagnosis was non-neoplastic appendiceal mucocele, and endoscopic treatment was performed. The endoscopic findings and pathological results supported our preoperative diagnosis. The endoscopic treatment of appendiceal mucocele was feasible and effective, which was confirmed by repeated endoscopy and post-operative computed tomography after 7 mo.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic therapy provides a new method for the treatment of appendiceal mucocele.

Key Words: Appendiceal mucocele; Endoscopy; Colonoscopy; Diagnosis; Treatment; Case report

Core Tip: Appendiceal mucocele is rare and was formerly treated by surgical resection. However, iatrogenic rupture of the mucocele may lead to peritoneal dissemination in malignant cases. Colonoscopy is not only significant for diagnosis but also helps treat appendiceal mucocele. Here, we report a case of appendiceal mucocele that was successfully diagnosed and treated by endoscopy.

INTRODUCTION

Appendiceal mucocele is a rare disease that causes obstructive dilatation of the appendix due to the intraluminal accumulation of mucin. The incidence of this condition is 0.2%-0.3% of all appendectomy specimens and 8%-10% of all appendiceal tumors[1]. Appendiceal mucocele is more common in females aged 50-60 years old[2]. Mucoceles may mostly result from luminal obstruction of the appendix root and mucus retention secreted by the distal appendiceal mucosa, causing the appendix to gradually expand into a cystic structure[3]. The preoperative diagnosis of appendiceal mucocele is very difficult. Up to 50% of cases are asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during radiology, endoscopy, or surgery[4]. The most frequent symptom is nonspecific abdominal pain, usually accompanied by a palpable mass in the right iliac fossa, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss[5]. Surgical resection is the traditionally recommended management strategy for appendiceal mucocele. We report a case of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of an appendiceal mucocele.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 47-year-old man presented with a protrusion around the orifice of the appendix discovered by colonoscopy incidentally.

History of present illness

The patient denied the presence of abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea, or vomiting without weight loss.

History of past illness

No significant past medical history was recorded, such as smoking or drinking.

Personal and family history

The patient had no previous or family history of similar illnesses.

Physical examination

The vital signs and physical examination showed no pathological changes.

Laboratory examinations

All the laboratory test results were within the reference ranges.

Imaging examinations

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic mass approximately 3 cm in diameter with fat stranding (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Abdominal computed tomography revealed a cystic mass approximately 3 cm in diameter with fat stranding.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The preoperative diagnosis was non-neoplastic appendiceal mucocele. Biopsy of the protrusion revealed inflammatory changes in the cecal mucosa and a small amount of myxoid tissue in the focal zone (Figure 2). The intraoperative findings and histopathology further confirmed the preoperative diagnosis.

Figure 2 Biopsy of the protrusion revealed inflammatory changes in the cecal mucosa and a small amount of myxoid tissue in the focal zone.

TREATMENT

The patient underwent endoscopic treatment under intravenous anesthesia. The procedure was performed using a single-channel endoscope (CV-290, Olympus) and a high-frequency electric cutting device (VIO 300D, ERBE). The unit was set for Endocut-Q, effect 3, cutting width 2, and time interval 4.

The detailed operation steps in our case were as follows: Endoscopy revealed a smooth-surfaced submucosal mass of the cecum, in which the appendiceal orifice was located in the center (Figure 3A). We injected the mixed solution of saline, indigo carmine, and epinephrine into the submucosa to elevate the lesion. Then, a snare was placed at the base of the lesion, and the submucosal mass was removed after tightening the snare. After resection of the submucosal mass, a large amount of clear yellowish mucus flowed through the appendiceal orifice into the cecum (Figure 3B). The endoscope was advanced into the appendiceal cavity after flushing the mucus completely. After clearing the mucus, the smooth inner wall of the appendix was exposed, and no nodules were visualized (Figure 3C).

Figure 3 Colonoscopy. A: A smooth-surfaced submucosal mass of the cecum with the appendiceal orifice in the center; B: A large amount of clear yellowish mucus flowing through the appendiceal orifice into the cecum after removing the submucosal mass; C: The inner wall of the appendix was smooth with no nodules.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

The patient was asymptomatic during follow-up. Repeat endoscopy performed approximately 7 mo later revealed no submucosal mound in the normal appendiceal orifice (Figure 4). Postoperative CT showed no abnormalities in the appendix (Figure 5).

Figure 4 Repeat colonoscopy revealed no submucosal mound in the normal appendiceal orifice.

Figure 5 Postoperative computed tomography showed no abnormalities in the appendix.

DISCUSSION

In this study, we report a case of appendiceal mucocele that was asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during colonoscopy. It was successfully diagnosed and treated by endoscopy. And there was no recurrence at the 7-mo follow-up.

Appendiceal mucoceles have been classified into four pathologic entities[6]: (1) Simple/retention mucocele; (2) Hyperplastic mucocele (5%-25%); (3) Mucinous cystadenoma (63%-84%); and (4) Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (11%-20%). Luminal dilatation of a simple mucocele and hyperplastic mucocele is generally mild, and their short-axis diameter rarely exceeds 2 cm. However, mucoceles greater than 6 cm in size may be associated with cystadenoma or cystadenocarcinoma and have a higher perforation rate, which may lead to the development of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP)[7].

It is difficult to make an appropriate preoperative diagnosis because of the nonspecific clinical presentation of appendiceal mucocele. In recent years, with the improvement of diagnostic techniques and accumulation of clinical experience, the preoperative diagnosis rate has been improved. CT is the most commonly used preoperative diagnosis method. The typical feature of a mucocele is a well-encapsulated, round, thin-wall cystic mass filled with mildly attenuated material in the right lower abdomen, and up to 50% of the cases show mural calcification[8]. The wall thickness of the appendix is less than 6 mm with no periappendicular inflammation generally, which is helpful to distinguish mucocele from acute appendicitis[9,10]. Besides, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also useful for the diagnosis of appendiceal mucocele. The “onion skin sign” is a specific ultrasonic appearance that suggests mucocele[11]. MRI could help to differentiate appendiceal mucocele from other cystic lesions in the right lower abdomen. Unlike imaging, colonoscopy usually reveals a smooth ball-shaped mound at the orifice of the appendix, moving in and out with respiratory movement. The appendiceal orifice is in the center of the mound, which is known as the “volcano sign”[12]. In terms of tumor markers, the high serum or cystic fluid concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 may be associated with neoplastic appendiceal mucocele and recurrence of the tumor[13-15]. In the present case, luminal dilatation of the mucocele was relatively mild, and the short-axis diameter was approximately 3 cm. In addition, the serum tumor markers were within the reference ranges. Therefore, we considered that the preoperative diagnosis was more likely to be non-neoplastic appendiceal mucocele.

Surgical resection is the only recommended treatment for appendiceal mucocele. Carcinomas represent 11%-20% of all cases and the surgical treatment plan should be carefully made on the basis of pathology. Cubro et al[6] reported a case of appendiceal mucocele that was discovered accidentally by surgical procedure. And there was no recurrence at the 6-mo follow-up after a simple appendectomy. Motsumi et al[4] presented a case of giant appendiceal mucocele that was treated by a right hemicolectomy, and the patient recovered uneventfully. Simple appendectomy is the optimal treatment for patients with a histological diagnosis of benign mucocele. If the histological diagnosis is cystadenocarcinoma, appendectomy combined with right colectomy should be performed[13]. However, the disadvantages of surgical procedures include a high degree of trauma, high cost, and possible serious complications caused by mucocele rupture. For non-neoplastic appendiceal mucocele, colonoscopy could replace traditional surgery to achieve good therapeutic effects by fully flushing the mucus. For neoplastic appendiceal mucocele, surgical resection increases the risk of implantation metastasis caused by mucocele rupture if the intraluminal pressure of the appendix is high. However, colonoscopy can relieve the pressure on the appendicular lumen by flushing the mucus, thus reducing the risk of rupture caused by subsequent surgery. Due to the disadvantages of surgical procedures that have been described above and the patients’ preference for endoscopic minimally invasive treatment, we decided to try to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect by endoscopic treatment.

Appendectomy for simple mucocele, hyperplastic mucocele, and mucinous cystadenoma has a 90%-100% 5-year survival rate. The outcome of cystadenocarcinoma without the base of the appendix or peritoneal or adjacent organ involvement after surgical resection is also excellent[14]. However, PMP often recurs after treatment and the 10-year survival rate falls to 63% for PMP after surgery[15]. Our patient in this case had no evidence of recurrence over 7 mo of follow-up after endoscopic treatment. Therefore, we did not recommend further surgical resection for this patient.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we report a case of appendiceal mucocele that was successfully diagnosed and treated by endoscopy. For non-neoplastic appendiceal mucocele, the colonoscopy procedure can not only help obtain a diagnosis but also help achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect by fully flushing the mucus. Moreover, for neoplastic appendiceal mucocele, colonoscopy might relieve the pressure on the appendicular lumen by flushing the mucus and reduce the risk of rupture.