Mucocele of appendix with an elevated carcinoembryonic antigen: A case report

Mucocele of the appendix is an uncommon disease in which there is cystic dilatation of the appendix caused by mucus secretion and usually associated with benign or malignant causes. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult as the patient presents with non-specific clinical symptoms. We report a case of mucocele of the appendix with elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) - a condition sparsely reported in literature. Patient presented with pain in the right iliac fossa for 7 months. On exploration, a cystic mass of the appendix without perforation was found in right iliac fossa. There was no lymph nodes enlargement. Appendicectomy was performed with subsequent normalization of CEA level and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of mucinous neoplasm of the appendix. Patient is feeling well after one year of follow up.