Appendiceal mucoceles:a report of 50 cases

Objective To evaluate the diagnosis and surgical management of appandiceal mucoceles.Method The clinical data of 50 patients with appendiceal mucoceles surgically treated from January 2004 to January 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Result The correct preoperative diagnosis rate was 8%.Eight patients were complicated with pseudomyxoma peritonei.The canceration rate was 4%.All the 50 patients recovered uneventfully after the surgery.There was no complications,no recurrence during the follow-up period,including the 2 patients with canceration. Conclusion It was difficult to make correct diagnosis of appendiceal mucoceles preoperatively.The diagnosis should always be in mind if the B-type ultrasonography indicated a cystoadenoma.Abdominal CT coupled with necessary digestive image examinations may improve the correct diagnosis rate.Some patients may be complicated with pseudomyxoma peritonei.Occasionally this abdominal mass was also associated with malignancy.Surgery is the management of choice,and the prognosis is good. Key words: Appendix; Mucoceles; Diagnosis; Sursical procedures,operative