[Usefulness of Transumbilical Laparoscopic-Assisted Appendectomy for a Suspected Case of Hydrops Processus...

A-77-year-old man presented to our hospital with high fever and lower abdominal pain. Enhanced CT of the abdomen revealed swelling of the appendix with wall thickening and fluid collection. We diagnosed appendicitis with abscess formation and performed transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy after the inflammation improved in response to antibiotics. Operative findings revealed a cystic lesion ofthe appendix and strong adhesion ofthe appendix to the terminal ileum. Based on these operative findings, we changed the operative procedure to a single-incision laparoscopic assisted ileocecal resection because ofthe possibility ofhydrops processus vermiformis. Histopathological findings revealed hyperplasia ofthe glandular epithelium with nuclear enlargement. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma ofthe appendix was diagnosed. Additional surgery was not performed due to the patient's request. The patient has been free from recurrent disease for approximately 6 months after the surgery. Transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy is useful for preventing pseudomyxoma peritonei and easing changes in extended operations for suspected cases of hydrops processus vermiformis.