Carcinoid tumor of the cecum presenting with acute appendicitis: a case report

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdomen. Carcinoid tumor of the appendix is a rare incidental finding that can present with the clinical picture of acute appendicitis.

During open surgery for acute appendicitis, a 3 cm solid mass, not noticed externally, was palpated at the base of the appendix. The mass and the appendix were excised by en-bloc wedge resection. The histopathological examination of the lesion revealed carcinoid tumor.

The aim of this presentation is to remind that neoplasms of the appendix may, although rarely, present the clinical picture of acute appendicitis, and to highlight that they, particularly those located at the base of the appendix and in cecum, may be overlooked during laparoscopy. The importance of preoperative computerized tomography ins uch cases has to be underlined.