Mucocele of the appendix - case report

Mucocele of the appendix is a term describing a cystic dilatation of the appendiceal lumen caused by abnormal mucous accumulation. Mucocele of the appendix is a rare condition, found in about 0.2% - 0.6% of all appendectomies. Mucocele can appear at every age, usually after 50 years of age and more frequently in women. The preoperative diagnosis is correct only in 20% cases. Precise diagnosis is very important because the therapy is surgical and biopsy is not advised. We present a 75-year-old patient who was diagnosed because of abdominal pains. Abdominal sonography and computed tomography revealed well-circumscribed cystic lesion in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The lesion was surgically removed. Histopathologic evaluation demonstrated a benign mucocele of the appendix. In case of presence of a cystic lesion in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen in a patient without a history of appendectomy, appendiceal mucocele is one of the differential diagnoses. (author)