Carcinoid tumors of the appendix:a report of 21 cases / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience for patients with appendiceal carcinoid tumors.Methods 21 patients with appendix carcinoid tumors were admitted and received surgery from 1967 to 1997 in our hospital.Results 12 patients (57%) presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis.In 9 patients(43%) tumors were discovered incidentally.The tumors were at the tip in 17 patients,at the middle third in 3,and at the base of the appendix in one.The tumor was less than 1 cm in diameter in 16 patients,between 1 and 2 cm in 3 patients,and larger than 2 cm in 2 patients.Tumor invasion was confined to the submucosa or muscle layers in 15 patients,serosa involved in 4 patients,and into the meso appendicular fat in the remaining 2 patients.Twenty patients underwent appendectomy alone.One patient with a tumor size larger than 2 cm and positive lymph nodes in the mesoappendix underwent secondary right hemicolectomy.Complete follow up was achieved in 19 patients,and all patients remained free of tumor recurrence and metastasis.Conclusion Appendiceal carcinoids of less than 1 cm could be adequately managed by appendectomy alone.The appropriate treatment for tumors of 1 to 2 cm are still controversial.Right hemicolectomy is recommended for tumors larger than 2 cm .