Carcinoid tumor of cecal appendix: one-year incidence at the Santa Marcelina Hospital

Abstract

IntroductionCarcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine malignancies that originate in the neuroectodermal cells of the Amine, Peptide Uptake and Decarboxylation system dispersed in the gastrointestinal mucosa and representing about 80–88% of tumors of cecal appendix. These are tumors usually diagnosed at appendectomies, and it is estimated that from each 100 appendectomies yearly performed, at least one case is a neuroendocrine tumor. ObjectivesTo report the experience of an University Teaching Hospital in health and reference at the east side of São Paulo and great São Paulo in cases of these rare appendicular tumors, with emphasis on the importance of these descriptions, as probably are rare those surgeons in particular who will acquire extensive wisdom in these cases. MethodRetrospective analysis of 237 patients who underwent appendectomy from September 2010 to September 2012 in the Hospital Santa Marcelina-SP. We evaluated data on age, gender, initial clinical presentation and surgical findings of patients undergoing appendectomy with subsequent anatomic and immunopathological diagnosis of carcinoid tumor of cecal appendix. ResultsThe presence of a carcinoid tumor of the appendix was observed in 5 patients, which corresponds to 2.1% of all appendectomies performed. Regarding gender, 4 patients (80%) were female and the average age was 34.2 years, with a range from 17 to 68 years. In all patients the initial hypothesis for surgery indication was acute appendicitis, with an intraoperative finding of necroperforated phase acute appendicitis in 3 patients (60%). ConclusionThe therapeutical conduct after the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors of the appendix must be based on the data provided by pathological and immunohistochemical studies, besides the judicious judgment of the attending physician.