Appendiceal mucocele diagnosed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease using endoscopic ultrasound. Case Rep Med. 2012;2012:849892. [PMID: 22811730 PMCID: PMC3395147 DOI: 10.1155/2012/849892]

Beyond boundaries: Feasibility of curved linear array echoendoscope in appendiceal neoplasm detection

We recently read with great interest a study by Zhang et al in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. In our practice, we focus specifically on examining appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs) with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) using different scopes. AMNs are rare neoplastic lesions characterized by an accumulation of mucin inside a cystic dilatation of the appendix. Clinically, they can present as nonspecific acute appendicitis. AMNs can turn into a life-threatening condition, termed pseudomyxoma peritonei, in which the ruptured appendix causes accumulation of mucin in the abdomen. Therefore, accurate and rapid diagnosis of AMN is essential. EUS is able to confirm and stage AMNs; although, EUS examination was once limited to the rectal and anal regions due to the conventional oblique-view scopes. With the emergence of new forward-view linear echoendoscopes and instruments like EUS miniprobes and overtubes, the scope of examination is changing. Herein, we discuss the feasibility of using the curved linear array echoendoscopes to examine cecal and appendiceal orifice lesions.

Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasms and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review of the Literature

There is no clear evidence on the prevalence and clinical presentation of appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (AMN) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), so a systematic review was performed to investigate the diagnosis, management and treatment of AMN in these patients. PubMed, Medline, Scopus and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles published up to September 2023. Twenty-three studies reporting data about 34 AMN patients were included. UC patients had a median age of 52 years and a median length of disease of 10 years; CD patients had a median age of 40.5 years and a median length of disease of 5 years. A pre-operative diagnosis was achieved in 44% of patients. Most patients were symptomatic (82.6%) and showed moderate-severe disease activity (61%). Surgical procedures were performed: laparoscopic appendectomy, ileocecal resection, right hemicolectomy and colectomy/proctocolectomy. Of the patients, 73.5% were diagnosed with low-grade mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) and nine with adenocarcinoma. Synchronous colorectal dysplasia/carcinoma was present in 23.5% of patients. IBD patients with long-standing disease should be routinely screened, not only for colorectal cancer but also for AMN, during gastro-enterologic follow-up. Laparoscopic appendectomy of unruptured LAMN as well as right hemicolectomy of non-metastatic adenocarcinoma are safe procedures in IBD patients.

Retinal OCT findings in acute central retinal artery occlusion of varying severity at different disease stages - a retrospective, observational study

PURPOSE

To study the optical coherence tomography (OCT) changes in eyes with acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) of different severity and at different disease stages.

METHODS

The study included acute CRAO cases of < 7 days duration, imaged on OCT at various time points. Based on the OCT findings at presentation, cases were classified into three severity groups: mild, moderate, and severe. OCT scans were evaluated and classified into four-time intervals based on symptom duration.

RESULTS

There were 39 eyes from 38 patients with acute CRAO who underwent 96 OCT scans. At presentation, the study had 11, 16, and 12 cases of mild, moderate, and severe CRAO, respectively. Middle retinal layer opacification was more common in mild CRAO cases, which caused inner retinal layer thinning over time. Moderate CRAO cases had total inner retinal layer opacification, which resulted in retinal thinning over time. Prominent middle limiting membrane (p-MLM) sign was seen in mild and moderate CRAO eyes while were not visualised in severe CRAO. This sign gradually faded out over time. Other OCT findings in higher grades of CRAO included inner retinal fluid, neurosensory detachment, internal limiting membrane detachment, hyperreflective foci, and posterior vitreous opacities. Regardless of the CRAO grade, the final end-point seen was inner retinal layer thinning over time.

CONCLUSION

OCT in CRAO is a useful for determining the severity of retinal ischemia, disease stage, tissue damage mechanism, and final visual outcome. More prospective studies analysing a larger number of cases at fixed time points will be required in the future.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial Registration Number: Not applicable.

Concomitant occurrence of appendiceal mucocele and ulcerative colitis: Case reports

Background

Appendiceal mucocele (AM) is a rare disease, manifested by accumulation of mucus in appendiceal lumen. The role of ulcerative colitis (UC) in the occurrence of appendiceal mucocele is not known. However, it is suggested that AM may be a presentation of colorectal cancer in IBD patients.

Case Presentation

Here, we presented 3 cases of concomitant AM and ulcerative colitis. The first patient was a 55-year-old woman with 2-year history of left sided UC; the second person was a 52-year-old woman with 12-year history of pan-UC; and the third patient was a 60-year-old man with 11-year history of pan-colitis. They were all referred due to indolent right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Imaging evaluations suggested the presence of appendiceal mucocele and therefore, they all went under operation. Pathologic evaluation reported AM of mucinous cyst adenoma type; low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm of appendix with intact serosa; and cyst-adenoma type AM for the three above-mentioned patients, respectively.

Conclusion

Although concomitant occurrence of AM and ulcerative colitis is rare, regarding the potential of neoplastic changes in AM, physicians must keep in mind the diagnosis of AM in UC patients with non-specific abdominal RLQ pain or bulged appendiceal orifice during colonoscopy.

A rare case of a Low Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm in a 46-year-old Middle Eastern female - A case report

Introduction and importance

Mucinous cell neoplasia are rare and conceivably fatal causes of surgical abdomen. Adult manifestations can be obscure and ill-defined, yielding misdiagnoses and wasting precious time and effort to reach the correct one. Clinical awareness ought to be present once presented with a surgical abdomen in such a patient because this neoplasm may present with misleading presentations which mask the actual diagnosis and masquerade as a different one, and in turn, may result in performing a dissimilar treatment intervention. Rapid learnt surgical judgments must be taken and put into action to diminish the morbidity and mortality consequential to this pathology.

Case presentation

Our case is of a 46-year-old female, who was admitted into our hospital with a 2-month-history of general fatigue. Colicky abdominal pain and discomfort developed shortly prior to admission. Multi-Slice Computed Tomography (MSCT) scan exposed cystic formation in the terminal ileum. Exploratory laparotomy was warranted, in addition to performing a right hemicolectomy.

Clinical discussion

We treated our patient via open surgery and performing an appendectomy with right hemicolectomy in addition to the excision of several surrounding lymph nodes. Diagnosis is traditionally reached intraoperatively relying on gross morphology and postoperatively through histopathological analysis of the excised specimens.

Conclusion

Low Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm is a scarce entity and varies critically in its manifestations, hence, it is existential to thoroughly study this kind of neoplasia, document it, and consider it, so that we can construct precise decisions to reach ideal results for patients who suffer from this neoplasm.

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Appendiceal primary tumors have an incidence rate of less than 2% of all excised samples of the appendix.

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Mucinous cell tumors of the appendix are ubiquitous in merely 0.2%–0.3% of all the excised samples of the appendix.

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Symptoms are ill-defined. This warrants high clinical suspicion when presented with a case of surgical abdomen.

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Surgery is the chief treatment method. Open surgery is favored over laparoscopic in appendiceal mucinous cell neoplasm.

Clinical significance of pathologic abnormalities in biopsy samples from the appendiceal orifice

AIMS

Appendiceal orifice mucosa often appears inflamed endoscopically, even when other colonic segments appear normal. Histological findings in biopsy samples taken from endoscopically abnormal mucosa may simulate a variety of inflammatory colitides. We performed this study to evaluate the clinical implications of inflammatory changes isolated to the appendiceal orifice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this double cohort study, biopsy samples from 26 histologically abnormal appendiceal orifices were reviewed. Twenty-five control cases were culled from endoscopically normal (n = 11) and abnormal (n = 14) appendiceal orifices that were histologically normal. Histological findings were correlated with presentation, medication history, findings at other colonic sites and clinical outcomes. Study cases displayed active inflammation (n = 12), chronic active inflammation (n = 13) or features simulating collagenous colitis (n = 1). Eighteen patients had biopsies taken from other colonic sites; these revealed benign polyps (n = 10) or displayed active (n = 4) or chronic active (n = 4) inflammation. All patients with findings isolated to the appendiceal orifice were asymptomatic at most recent clinical follow-up. Four of eight (50%) of the patients with inflammation in other biopsy samples were ultimately diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, in keeping with the well-established role of the appendix as a 'skip lesion' in that disorder. Control patients presented for screening colonoscopy (n = 19), iron deficiency anaemia (n = 3) or change in bowel habits (n = 3) and none reported gastrointestinal symptoms upon follow-up, regardless of the endoscopic appearance of the appendiceal orifice.

CONCLUSION

Isolated inflammation of the appendiceal orifice mucosa should not be regarded as a feature of evolving inflammatory bowel disease or other types of chronic colitis.

A rare cecal subepithelial tumor in a Crohn´s Disease patient

Appendiceal tumors comprise a variety of histologic types, including appendiceal mucinous neoplasms, which can be grouped as premalignant lesions, tumors of uncertain malignant potential, and malignant lesions. The appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are characterized by mucinous epithelial proliferation with extracellular mucin and pushing tumor margins, commonly an incidental finding during operative exploration. We report the case of a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm presenting as a subepithelial lesion in Crohn´s Disease patient. The diagnosis was not straightforward, and only surgical resection allowed an accurate diagnosis. Although Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a risk factor for the development of colorectal neoplasms, the absolute risk for appendiceal tumors is uncertain. The frequency of progression to malignancy remains to be determined.

Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm in an Adolescent Patient With Untreated Crohn's Disease

Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are rarely diagnosed in pediatric patients. We present a 16-year-old adolescent boy with severe Crohn's disease who was not on maintenance medication for his underlying diagnosis. He was referred for nutritional optimization and small bowel obstruction. An emergent laparoscopic ileocecectomy with primary ileocolonic anastomosis was carried out secondary to acute peritonitis. Small bowel pathologic findings were consistent with Crohn's disease with low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) of the appendix.

Risk of cancer, with special reference to extra-intestinal malignancies, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

AIM: To determine the incidence and characteristics of intestinal and extra-intestinal cancers among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in a Spanish hospital and to compare them with those of the local population.

METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, 7-year follow-up, cohort study. Cumulative incidence, incidence rates based on person-years of follow-up and relative risk were calculated for patients with inflammatory bowel disease and compared with the background population. The incidence of cancer was determined using a hospital-based data registry from Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada. Demographic data and details about time from diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease to occurrence of cancer, disease extent, inflammatory bowel disease treatment, cancer therapy and cancer evolution were also collected in the inflammatory bowel disease cohort.

RESULTS: Eighteen of 590 patients with inflammatory bowel disease developed cancer [cumulative incidence = 3% (95%CI: 1.58-4.52) vs 2% (95%CI: 1.99-2.11) in the background population; RR = 1.5; 95%CI: 0.97-2.29]. The cancer incidence among inflammatory bowel disease patients was 0.53% (95%CI: 0.32-0.84) per patient-year of follow-up. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease had a significantly increased relative risk of urothelial carcinoma (RR = 5.23, 95%CI: 1.95-13.87), appendiceal mucinous cystadenoma (RR = 36.6, 95%CI: 7.92-138.4), neuroendocrine carcinoma (RR = 13.1, 95%CI: 1.82-29.7) and rectal carcinoid (RR = 8.94, 95%CI: 1.18-59.7). Colorectal cancer cases were not found.

CONCLUSION: The overall risk of cancer did not significantly increase in our inflammatory bowel disease patients. However, there was an increased risk of urinary bladder cancer and, with less statistical power, an increased risk of appendiceal mucinous cystadenoma and of neuroendocrine tumors. Colorectal cancer risk was low in our series.