Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Appendix (A Case Report)

Abstract

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are characterised by their ability to secrete hormones. There is a wide variety of NETs that can develop in any organ of the digestive system. NETs of the appendix are rare with an estimated incidence of 0.15 to 06 cases/year per 100,000 people and are often seen in young adults with a male predominance. Most NETs of the appendix are asymptomatic and usually discovered incidentally during appendectomy. Treatment is by surgical removal of the tumour to a healthy margin in accordance with the principles of carcinology. We report on a case of a 24-year-old female patient. She was admitted with generalized abdominal pain originating in the right iliac fossa with a B.P. of 0 and a fever of 38°C. The abdominal and pelvic CT scan showed acute appendicitis with a discrete agglutination of the loop around the appendix and an effusion of the right iliac fossa and pelvis of medium abundance. The biological work-up showed a hyperleukocytosis with a predominance of neutrophils. The patient underwent ileo-caecal resection, ileo-colostomy in double gun barrel after an exploration which revealed a mass of appendicular cystic appearance "suspicion of appendicular mucocele?" with a purulent peritoneal effusion and false membranes in the inter-anses. Pathological examination showed a proliferation of organoid architecture suggestive of a neuroendocrine tumour measuring 4 mm in length.