[Primary carcinoma of the vermiform appendix]

A 54-year-old Japanese woman with primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix was treated. The diagnosis was established before surgery by means of barium studies and ultrasound examination. Histologically, the tumor was a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. The patient was treated by ileocecal resection, and a 10-month follow-up has revealed neither evidence of recurrence nor of metastases. The preoperative investigations, pathologic features and surgical management in this case are briefly discussed.