Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 26 cases from southwest china

Analysis of surgical treatment of appendix neuroendocrine neoplasms-17 years of single-center experience

BACKGROUND/AIM

This study investigated the clinicopathological characteristics and treatment of appendix neuroendocrine neoplasms in appendectomy specimens of our center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinicopathological data, including age, sex, preoperative clinical manifestation, surgical method, and histopathological examination results of 11 patients with appendix neuroendocrine neoplasms confirmed by surgery and pathology between November 2005 and January 2023, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

In the histopathological examination of 7277 appendectomy specimens, 11 cases (0.2%) had appendix neuroendocrine neoplasms. Among the 11 patients, 8(72.7%) were males, and 3(27.3%) were females, with an average age of 48.1 years. All patients underwent emergency surgery. A total of 9 patients underwent open appendectomy, including 1 patient who underwent second-stage simple right hemicolectomy after an appendectomy, and two who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. All 11 patients were followed up for a period of 1 to 17 years. All patients survived without any indication of tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasms are low-grade malignant tumors originating from neuroendocrine cells. They are rarely seen in clinical practice and are often treated based on acute and chronic appendicitis symptoms. These tumors are challenging to diagnose before surgery due to the lack of specificity in clinical manifestations and auxiliary examinations. The diagnosis generally depends on postoperative pathology and immunohistochemistry. Despite the diagnostic challenges, these tumors have a favorable prognosis.

Goblet Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix: A Systematic Review and Incidence and Survival of 1,225 Cases From an English Cancer Registry

Background

Goblet cell adenocarcinoma (GCA) of the appendix is a rare and aggressive tumour with varying nomenclature and classification systems. This has led to heterogeneity in published data, and there is a lack of consensus on incidence, survival, and management.

Methods

We provide an overview of GCA with a comprehensive systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology and a retrospective analysis of all cases recorded in the English National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service database between 1995 and 2018. The Kaplan–Meier estimator was used to calculate overall survival, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify prognostic factors.

Results

The systematic review demonstrated an incidence of 0.05–0.3 per 100,000 per year among North American registry studies. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 95.5%, 85.9%–87.6%, and 76.0%–80.6%, respectively. Age, stage, and grade were identified as prognostic factors for survival. Our analysis included 1,225 cases. Age-standardised incidence was 0.0335 per year in 1995 and gradually rose to 0.158 per year in 2018. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 90.0% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 85.4–94.0], 76.0% (95% CI: 73.8–80.9), and 68.6% (95% CI: 65.9–72.2), respectively. On univariate Cox regression analyses, female sex, stage, and grade were associated with worse overall survival. On multivariate analysis, only stage remained a statistically significant prognostic factor.

Conclusions

GCA of the appendix is rare, but incidence is increasing. We report a lower incidence and survival than North American registry studies. Higher stage was associated with decreased survival. Further prospective studies are required to establish optimal management.

Appendiceal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas, a rare entity that can present as a Krukenberg tumor: case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare tumor recently recognized as a new category in the last World Health Organization (WHO) classification of appendiceal tumors (2010). This term has been proposed to designate carcinomas of the appendix that arise by progression from a pre-existing goblet cell carcinoid. Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas are more aggressive tumors than typical goblet cell carcinoids and usually present with peritoneal spreading and ovarian masses. Staging, some histological features, and completeness of surgery are factors that determine its evolution.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma--signet ring cell subtype--that presented as a Krukenberg tumor of unknown primary.

CONCLUSION

The review of literature is focused on the most recent WHO pathologic classification of appendiceal tumors containing goblet cell clusters, which seems to correlate with prognosis. A management proposal for mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas reported in previous literature is also discussed. This ranges from right hemicolectomy to cytoreduction plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, in both cases usually followed by intravenous chemotherapy.

Clear cell carcinoid of the appendix: Report of two cases with literature review

The clear cell/lipid-rich change has been described in neuroendocine tumors in several organs, but rarely observed in the appendix. In this study, we describe the morphologic, immunohistochemical features of incidentally discovered appendiceal carcinoids entirely represented by clear cells in a 22-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman. Ultrastructual examination demonstrated abundant lipid droplets and dense core granules. The mechanism leading to lipid accumulation in the cytoplasm has not been discovered, but degenerative processes following recurrent inflammatory change might be considered. This uncommon variant of appendiceal classic carcinoid tumors may bear a superficial resemblance to goblet carcinoid and/or appendiceal metastases from clear cell carcinoma. Awareness of clear cell carcinoid of the appendix will prevent incorrect diagnosis and unnecessary aggressive management.

Bowel parasitosis and neuroendocrine tumours of the appendix. A report from the Italian TREP project

Five children with a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) of the appendix associated with a parasitic bowel infection are described, and the possibility of inflammation-triggered carcinogenesis is discussed. Schistosoma haematobium is linked primarily to bladder cancer but it has been reported in association with several other histotypes, including NETs of the gastrointestinal tract. Conversely, Enterobius vermicularis has not yet been claimed to participate in the onset of pre-cancerous conditions or tumours. The rare occurrence of contemporary appendiceal NETs and parasitic infection, raises the intriguing hypothesis of an inflammation-related carcinogenesis, although a cause–effect relationship cannot be established. Larger international series of childhood appendiceal NETs, which also include countries with higher prevalence of parasitic bowel infections, are needed to further clarify this possible cause–effect relationship.

Histopathology of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms

Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms (GI-NENs) arise from neuroendocrine cells distributed mainly in the mucosa and submucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of NENs of the digestive system was changed, categorizing these tumors as grade 1 neuroendocrine tumor (NET), grade-2NET, neuroendocrine carcinoma (large- or small-cell type), or mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC). Such a classification is based on the Ki-67 index and mitotic count in histological material. For the accurate pathological diagnosis and grading of NENs, it is important to clearly recognize the characteristic histological features of GI-NENs and to understand the correct method of counting Ki-67 and mitoses. In this review, we focus on the histopathological features of GI-NENs, particularly regarding biopsy and cytological diagnoses, neuroendocrine markers, genetic and molecular features, and the evaluation of the Ki-67 index and mitotic count. In addition, we will address the histological features of GI-NEN in specific organs.

Schistosomiasis may contribute to goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix

Abstract : To investigate whether schistosomiasis can contribute to appendiceal goblet cell carcinoid, appendix samples were obtained from 3 patients with combined appendiceal schistosomiasis and goblet cell carcinoid (CSG), 6 patients with goblet cell carcinoid only (GCC), 12 patients with appendiceal schistosomiasis only (ASO), and 12 cases with normal appendix (NA), all of similar gender ratio and age distributions. Hematoxylin and eosin-(H&E) stained sections were studied in 3 CSGs and 12 ASOs to diagnose schistosomiasis by detecting schistosome eggs. H&E and alcian blue/PAS-stained sections and immunohistochemistry of CgA and CEA were employed to establish the diagnosis of GCC in the 3 CSGs and 6 GCCs. Then, to determine whether schistosomiasis can contribute to GCC, immunostaining patterns of CgA and Ki67 in mucosal crypt epithelia were investigated and compared among all 33 cases. Our results revealed typical histological and immunohistochemical phenotypes of GCC in the 3 CSGs and 6 GCCs and schistosome egg deposits in 3 CSGs and 12 ASOs. We found that the expression levels of both CgA and Ki67 in mucosal crypt epithelia were significantly higher in CSG than in GCC (P < 0.05  =  0.013 and P  =  0.004, respectively). Moreover, high expression levels of both CgA and Ki67 in mucosal crypt epithelia favor ASO as compared to NA (P < 0.001  =  3.4 × 10(-6) and 3.1 × 10(-5), respectively). Our findings suggest that appendiceal schistosomiasis was associated with increased proliferation and neuroendocrine differentiation of mucosal pluripotent crypt cells and that it may contribute to GCC, which is documented to originate from mucosal pluripotent crypt cells in mucosal crypt epithelia.

Gastrointestinal neoplasia associated with bowel parasitosis: real or imaginary?

Several parasitic species are well known to have carcinogenic properties, namely; Schistosoma hematobium (squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder) and the liver flukes Opisthorchis and Chlonorchis (cholangiocarcinoma). A large number of parasites are known to colonize the gastrointestinal tract. We sought to review the evidence that implicates these parasites in gastrointestinal neoplasia. Schistosoma japonicum, which is endemic primarily in east Asia, has been shown in multiple studies to convey a mildly increased risk of colorectal adenocarcinoma. The data supporting a causative role for Schistosoma mansoni in colorectal or other neoplastic processes are less convincing, limited primarily to small case-control studies and case series. Reports of possible associations between other gastrointestinal parasites (e.g., E. histolytica and A. lumbricoides) and neoplasia may be found in the literature but are limited to individual cases. We conclude that, other than S. japonicum and to a lesser extent S. mansoni, there is little evidence of an association between gastrointestinal parasites and neoplasia.