[Primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix].

The authors published experience with the treatment of four patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix and an analysis of 20 patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix treated in the North Moravia region during a ten-year period (1980-1989). The incidence of the disease is rare. Usually it is manifested by symptoms imitating acute appendicitis. In exceptional instances there are other symptoms such as melaena, invagination, infiltration of neighbouring organs etc. Only rarely the disease is diagnosed during appendectomy. Most frequently an adenocarcinoma of the colonic type is involved with a tendency of rapid local spread. In that case right-sided hemicolectomy is the method of choice. In exceptional instances simple appendectomy is sufficient (mucinous type of adenocarcinoma, Dukes A). In advanced stages of the disease a palliative surgical operation may frequently suffice. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be always considered with regard to the stage of the disease and the general state of the patient. The prognosis is similar as in adenocarcinoma of the colon.