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| Cystadenocarcinoma of Appendix |
| Etiology •An uncommon tumor which is probably similar in origin to colonic adenocarcinoma |
| Pathogenesis •Unknown, but may share features with colonic adenocarcinoma, |
| Epidemiology •A rare tumor with a male/female predominance of 3/1 •Mean age of discovery is 55yrs |
| General Gross Description •Solid adenocarcinomas initially present as thickenings of the appendiceal wall •With time a mass lesion is seen encircling the appendix •Cystadenocarcinomas are a variant of solid tumors with marked mucin production and they may form cystic masses filled with sticky mucin simulating mucocoeles •Solid portions of these tumors have a firm white appearance |
| General Microscopic Description •The cystic portion resemble colonic mucinous adenocarcinomas with scattered malignant cells embedded in pale basophilic pools of mucin •The solid portions contain columnar epithelium arranged in glands with moderately large hyperchromatic nuclei and mucin positive cytoplasm •The histologic appearance is similar to that of colonic adenocarcinomas |
| Clinical Correlation •The findings are similar to those of appendicitis •In larger tumors signs of intestinal obstruction may occur •About a quarter of these tumors are discovered incidentally during abdominal exploration |
| References Gastrointestinal Pathology. Fenoglio-Preiser CM et al (ed) New York, Raven Press, 1989, p.424 |
| Cystadenocarcinoma of Appendix |
| Synopsis by: Martin Nadel, M.D. (T66000M84703)[401] |
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