Acute appendicitis and postoperative fecal fistula: symptoms of an unrecognized carcinoma of the colon

Diarrhea Concealing a Duodenal-Cecal Fistula Secondary to Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix is a rare gastrointestinal malignancy. Fistulous tract formation is a complication that is cited in literature. An 85-year-old man with multiple comorbidities presented with several weeks of persistent non-bloody diarrhea. Laboratory work-up was non-diagnostic. Abdominal imaging with barium contrast showed an enterocolonic fistulous tract extending from the duodenum to the cecum involving an enlarged appendiceal mass. Subsequent biopsy confirmed mucinous appendiceal neoplasm with peritoneal spread to the liver and mesentery. This is the first report describing an enterocolonic fistula formation resulting from this malignancy.

Incidence and odds ratio of appendicitis as first manifestation of colon cancer: a retrospective analysis of 1873 patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Obstruction of the lumen of the appendix is the major cause of appendicitis. Tumors could obstruct this lumen and cause appendicitis in the elderly. The association between appendicitis and colon cancer has not been sufficiently investigated, and this study was designed to clarify this association.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. Patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis from January 1998 to December 2003 at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital were surveyed. Patients found to have colon cancers immediately or subsequently after appendectomy were included and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1873 patients were diagnosed as having appendicitis of whom 16 were found to have colon cancer. The incidence of appendicitis associated with colon cancer was 0.85%. The time from appendectomy to the recognition of colonic cancer was at a median delay of 5.8 months. From the Taiwan Cancer Research Annual Report, the incidence of colon cancer was 31.91/100,000 in the year 2000. The odds ratio of colon cancer incidence had a 38.5-fold increase among patients older than 40 with acute appendicitis.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients over 40 years who present with symptoms of acute appendicitis the possibility of a coexistent colonic neoplasm should always be kept in mind. These patients should undergo colonoscopy 6 weeks after surgery to exclude the possibility of a coexistent colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma of the vermiform appendix

Primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix is rare. Eleven patients with this rare neoplasm have been evaluated at our institution over a 50-year period. We have reviewed the presentation and clinical course of these patients, and have compared them with those described in the literature. The presenting signs and symptoms, physical findings, and treatment were similar to those described in the literature. However, the 5-year survival of 20% is lower than most series, and reflects the advanced stage of disease at the time of diagnosis in this group of patients. Despite the low 5-year survival, we feel that aggressive therapy (right hemicolectomy) is necessary to obtain long-term survival.

Management of carcinoma discovered unexpectedly at operation for acute appendicitis

This review of 900 patients who underwent colon resection for carcinoma identified 33 patients who were explored with the preoperative diagnosis of appendicitis. In 19 patients, the appendix was acutely inflamed secondary to obstruction of the appendiceal lumen. The other 14 patients had perforating or obstructing cancer of the ascending colon or cecum. The clinical clues of a prolonged symptom history, weight loss, anemia, and a palpable mass were frequently, but not invariably, present. Results of contrast enema, computerized axial tomography, and colonoscopy in this select group were frequently misleading. The diagnosis is best made in the operating room by the thoughtful appendectomist. I recommend prompt resection and an appropriate cancer procedure in these patients. Carcinoma masquerading as appendicitis occurs more often than is generally realized and will be seen more frequently as our aging population increases.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma associated with long-standing fistula in the cecal region

A patient with mucinous adenocarcinoma associated with long-standing chronic fistula in the cecal region is presented. Association of mucinous carcinoma with chronic fistula seems to occur not infrequently in the anal region, but is extremely rare elsewhere in the large intestine. This is the first report of an occurrence in the cecal region.