Mucinous appendicular cystadenocarcinoma during pregnancy. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Primary appendicular adenocarcinoma is a rare type of appendicular carcinoma. We report mucinous appendicular adenocarcinoma during pregnancy. To our knowledge, this is the third reported case.

CASE: A 35-year-old woman at 21 weeks of gestation presented with acute abdominal symptoms for the previous 10 days and underwent appendectomy. Histopathologically, examination of the appendectomy material was reported as "mucinous appendicular cystadenocarcinoma." The pregnancy was terminated by misoprostol induction. A right hemicolectomy and staging procedure were performed on the third postpartum day with relaparotomy.

CONCLUSION

Although it rarely coexists with pregnancy, primary appendicular adenocarcinoma should be considered in pregnant women with atypical acute abdominal symptoms of long duration. Primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix should be treated with right hemicolectomy even if it is a secondary procedure. Termination of pregnancy is not essential to the surgical procedure, and the decision on the outcome of the pregnancy should be made with the patient.