Laparoscopic resection for appendiceal mucocele secondary to endometriosis: A case report

This case report describes a patient who underwent laparoscopic resection of the mucocele of the appendix secondary to endometriosis, a rarity in clinical practice.

The patient was a 38-year-old woman with a history of endometriosis and an ovarian cyst who sought medical advice with a chief complaint of mild right lower abdominal pain.

Computed tomography and ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed a cystic lesion at the distal end of the appendix without definitive findings of malignancy. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal tumor-like elevation at the appendiceal orifice. Appendiceal mucocele was suspected preoperatively.

The lesion was resected laparoscopically. Secondary ileocecal resection with lymphadenectomy was possible if the resected specimen was pathologically diagnosed as a malignant tumor with the risk of lymph node metastasis.

The resected specimen was pathologically diagnosed as an appendiceal mucocele secondary to endometriosis; therefore, additional surgery was avoided.

Although appendiceal mucoceles secondary to endometriosis are rare, laparoscopic surgery in which only the lesion was resected is a useful strategy for the treatment and pathological diagnosis of appendiceal mucoceles without findings of malignancy.