Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the appendix mimicking acute appendicitis

Abstract

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the appendix is a very rare neoplasm that usually presents with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis and in particular with a right lower abdominal pain. Preoperative imaging detection of appendiceal adenocarcinoma has an important value because it may result in an appropriate surgical procedure. We report a rare case of primary signet ring cell carcinoma of the vermiform appendix in an 80-year-old man who was misdiagnosed on computed tomography (CT) scan as acute appendicitis.

Cutaneous metastasis of signet ring cell appendiceal adenocarcinoma: a herald of disease recurrence

“…1 SRCAA is a clinically aggressive type of cancer that often spreads to the pelvic lymph nodes, ovaries, and peritoneal surfaces by the time of diagnosis. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The most common presentation is right lower quadrant abdominal pain mimicking acute appendicitis. 7,8 Advanced abdomino-pelvic malignancies can also present as a metastatic umbilical nodule, termed a sister Mary Joseph nodule.…”

“…Signet ring cell appendiceal adenocarcinoma (SRCAA) is a rare entity with poor prognosis and high tendency for metastasis to pelvic lymph nodes, ovaries, and peritoneal surfaces. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Despite numerous reports of intra-abdominal metastasis, there have been few reported cases of cutaneous SRCAA metastasis. 5 We report a rare case of SRCAA metastatic to the cutaneous abdominal wall in a 67 years old female, which was first presenting sign of disease recurrence.…”

Signet-ring cell carcinoma of the appendix: a case report with an emphasis on sonographic findings

“…Data from our hospital are similar, with 0.9% (80 cases) reported in 9,227 appendectomy specimens over the past 14 years. Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of appendix is even rarer, comprising 4% of all primary appendiceal neoplasms [ 4 ]. In our institute, only one case out of 80 primary appendiceal neoplasms was confirmed to be primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the appendix.…”

“…Primary neoplasms of the appendix constitute approximately 0.5%–1.0% of appendectomy specimens upon pathologic evaluation [ 1 – 3 ]. Signet-ring cell carcinoma of the appendix is extremely rare, comprising only 4% of all primary appendiceal neoplasms [ 4 ]. It is often misdiagnosed because patients with an appendiceal tumor present with signs and symptoms suggestive of acute non-tumorous appendicitis [ 1 ].…”

“…However, its diagnosis is always challenging because its radiologic features are undefined [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]. To our knowledge, few cases have been reported in the literature, and previous reports have only described non-specific computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) findings similar to non-tumorous appendicitis, without evaluating the histopathologic correlations of the imaging findings [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]. In this case report, we describe the US findings of primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the appendix in relation to the tumor’s histopathological characteristics.…”