MUCOCELE OF THE APPENDIX WITH HIGH LEVELS OF VARIOUSTUMOR MARKERS IN THE CYST -REPORT OF A CASE-

Abstract

Mucocele of the appendix is a rare condition designating a cystic distension due to a pool of musous in the lumen of the appendix. It has been said that the disease presents difficulty in diagnosis preoperatively. This time we have experienced a case of the disease with high levels of various tumor markers in the cyst. A 47-year-old woman was seen at the hospital because of a right lower abdominal mass. A laparotomy was conducted with a diagnosis of pyoovarium, and a fist-sized tumor of the appendix was found. So an appendectomy was performed. The resected appendix was smooth in surface, elastic soft, and a monolocular cyst, and the lumen was filled with a ligh yellowish white and gelatine-like substance. Histologically it was diagnosed as simple mucocele of the appendix. As to tumor markers in the cystic content, NSE, IAP, CA15-3, CA72-4, and BFP were in normal range, but other markers were abnormally high: CEA was 2680ng/ml; TPA, 1290 U/l; CA19-9, 386 U/ml; CA-50, 726 U/ml; SPan-1, 950 U/ml; SLX, 767 U/ml; NCC-ST-439, 294 U.m/ml; and STNm 3690 U/ml. This case that appeared to be suggestive is presented here, together with a review of the literature.