[Mucocele of the appendix. Retrospective study of 10 cases]

The purpose of our work was to assess the value of abdominal sonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative diagnosis of appendiceal mucocele.

and methods. We retrospectively reviewed 10 cases of mucocele of the appendix, 7 cases without pseudomyxoma peritonei, and 3 cases with pseudomyxoma peritonei. All cases were investigated radiologically by plain film and US, barium enema was performed in 3 cases and CT in 5 cases.

Mucoceles of the appendix are rare and their clinical presentation is not specific. US confirms the appendicular involvement, but often poses the differential diagnosis with acute inflammation, abscess or localized appendicular peritonitis. CT appears as a mandatory examination since it allows accurate preoperative diagnosis period. In this series, the diagnosis was made preoperatively in the 5 cases where CT had been performed.

US is useful to confirm the abnormal pattern of the appendix but does not allow accurate diagnosis of mucocele. CT is more specific and accurate for diagnosis of mucocele of the appendix.