rare case of appendiceal stump adenocarcinoma and review of literature

ABSTRACT

Adenocarcinoma of appendiceal stump is extremely rare, with only four such patients reported to date. It has no specific clinical signs, symptoms, or radiologic features, making preoperative diagnosis difficult. Secondary right hemicolectomy is recommended and is difficult to perform, with peritoneal dissemination and lymph node metastases sometimes found at the second operation. We report on a case of a 72-year-old patient who underwent an appendectomy in 2005 and was admitted because of a 3-month history of repeated constipation with vomiting. He was not relieved with the use of gastrokinetic drugs. Initial diagnosis was chronic adhesive intestinal obstruction due to previous lower abdominal surgery. He recovered well postoperatively. A histological examination showed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the appendiceal stump