Introduction
Primary adenocarcinoma of appendix is a rarely diagnosed malignancy accounting for less than 6% of appendiceal neoplastic lesions and less than 0.5% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. It is mostly diagnosed as an incidental finding after appendicectomy.
Case summary
An 81 year old male patient presented with bleeding per rectum in a background of previous rectal polyp, hypertension, diabetes and hypothyroidism. CECT of whole abdomen findings revealed thickening at the appendix and base of the caecum. Colonoscopy showed a sessile polypoid growth at appendicular orifice, at the base of the caecum. Laparoscopy confirmed the clinical suspicion of appendicular carcinoma and laparoscopy assisted radical right hemicolectomy was performed. Final histopathology revealed well differentiated adenocarcinoma of the appendix with no lymph node involvement (pT3N0M0).
Discussion
Patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix present with features similar to acute appendicitis whereas anaemia or fresh bleeding per rectum is a rare presentation. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, the extent of which will depend upon the stage. Tumours staged as T1 may be managed by appendicectomy alone provided the base is free and there are no lymphadenopathies. T2 or above require right hemicolectomy as chances of lymph node metastasis are high. Nodal involvement warrants the need for adjuvant chemotherapy. Distant metastasis to the peritoneum or liver and lungs is very rare.
Conclusion
While investigating unexplained anaemia or bleeding per rectum, full colonoscopic examination up to the appendicular orifice is important and if required, should be combined with CT scan of abdomen, to clinch the rare but possible and potentially curable diagnosis of appendicular carcinoma.
Ascariasis infestation is a common helminthic disease in developing countries with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, one of which can be acute abdomen. Small bowel volvulus is a serious life-threatening emergency. The aetiology may be primary as is often seen in Africa and Asia, while in Western countries other predisposing conditions usually initiate the volvulus. Ascariasis is highly prevalent in India and so, a myriad of different presentations is quite obvious. Here the authors have reported a case of a 6year old boy presenting with features of acute intestinal obstruction-central abdominal pain, repeated vomiting and abdominal distension. After evaluation with abdominal radiography and ultrasonography, exploratory laparotomy was planned. A secondary ileal volvulus compact with worms of ascaris lumbricoides was found. Resection of non-viable ileum was done after evacuation of worms by enterotomy followed by primary anastomosis. Prompt clinical diagnosis, a high index of suspicion for complications and early surgical intervention are critical in minimizing morbidity in cases of Intestinal Ascariasis.
Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. It is located on the anti-mesenteric border of the small intestine and occurs due to incomplete obliteration of the omphalomesenteric duct during embryogenesis. Tumors, particularly cancers, are rare complications of MD. Carcinoids are the most common malignancies in this site. Adenocarcinomas are extremely rare and carry a poor prognosis. Here, we present the case of adenocarcinoma of MD presenting as Krukenberg tumor in a 42-year-old lady and causing a diagnostic dilemma. Pelviabdominal examination revealed large bilateral adnexal masses along with ascites and computed tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology from the right adnexal mass was suggestive of adenocarcinoma. At exploratory laparotomy, a MD was found with hard intramural growth palpable at the tip of MD adnexal deposits and omental caking. Immunohistochemistry revealed CK 7- and CK 20+ve and also CDX2 positive. The rarity of presentation of bilateral adnexal mass due to primary adenocarcinoma of MD urges us to report this case.
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