Primary malignant neoplasms of the cecal appendix: unusual findings in acute appendicitis

Introduction: To evaluate the prevalence of appendix neoplasia correlating with patient profile, histological types and frequency. Methods: Data collection was performed in the Pathology Department of a General Hospital, with the objective of identifying patients diagnosed with malignant cecal appendix tumors by histopathologic study of specimens from acute appendicitis. Results: The prevalence of malignant primary epithelial neoplasia of the appendix was 1%. Fifty percent of the cases were neuroendocrine tumors, 35% were mucinous, and 15% were adenocarcinomas. The mean age at diagnosis was 41.3 (SD, 20.4) years (range 16-81), with a women/men ratio of 3:1. Discussion: Appendiceal neoplasms are rare and should be suspected manly in women over 40 years of age with suggestive symptoms of acute appendicitis. The size, location, extent, margins and presence of mucin are essential findings for the treatment of these patients. (AU)

Heterotopia pancreática em vesícula biliar: um relato de caso / Heterotopic pancreas in the gallbladder: a case report

A heterotopia pancreática é definida como a presença de tecido pancreático em localização topográfica anômala. Essa patologia pode acometer variadas estruturas da cavidade abdominal, mas raramente manifesta-se na vesícula biliar. Até o momento, menos de 40 casos de heterotopia pancreática em vesícula biliar foram relatados na literatura médica. Apresentamos um caso de uma mulher de 25 anos, que realizou uma colecistectomia videolaparoscópica por colelitíase, com exame anatomopatológico que identificou uma heterotopia pancreática. Apesar de rara, a doença deve ser considerada em pacientes com sintomatologia de doenças da via biliar e de doenças pancreáticas e sem diagnóstico após uma investigação de rotina, tendo em vista que o tecido pancreático ectópico está sujeito às mesmas alterações patológicas, manifestações clínicas e complicações encontradas no próprio pâncreas. (AU)

Heterotopic pancreas is defined as the presence of pancreatic tissue at an anomalous location. This condition may affect multiple structures in the abdominal cavity but rarely appears in the gallbladder. To date, fewer than 40 cases of heterotopic pancreas in the gallbladder have been reported in the medical literature. We present a case of a 25 year-old woman who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis, with a pathology test that detected heterotopic pancreas. Despite its rarity, this disease must be considered in cases of corresponding symptoms without a diagnosis after a routine evaluation, considering that ectopic pancreatic tissue is exposed to the same pathological alterations, clinical manifestations, and complications found in the pancreas. (AU)