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Carcinoid tumors of the appendix
A Roggo1, W C Wood, L W Ottinger
1General Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Annals of Surgery
|April 1, 1993
Summary
Appendiceal carcinoid tumors are rare, often asymptomatic, and typically diagnosed incidentally. Small tumors (<1 cm) are effectively treated with appendectomy alone, while larger tumors require more aggressive surgical management.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Appendiceal carcinoid tumors are rare neoplasms.
- Diagnosis is often incidental or presents as acute appendicitis symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical characteristics and management outcomes of patients with appendiceal carcinoid tumors.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different surgical approaches based on tumor size and stage.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 41 patients with histologically confirmed appendiceal carcinoid tumors.
- Analysis of patient demographics, tumor location, size, depth of invasion, and treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- Most tumors were small (<1 cm) and located at the appendix tip.
- 54% of patients presented with appendicitis-like symptoms; 46% were incidental findings.
- Appendectomy alone was sufficient for tumors <1 cm; one patient with a large tumor and lymph node metastasis underwent right hemicolectomy.
Conclusions:
- Appendiceal carcinoid tumors are rare and frequently asymptomatic.
- Appendectomy is adequate for tumors <1 cm.
- Management for tumors 1-2 cm remains controversial; right hemicolectomy is recommended for tumors >2 cm.