Laparoscopic Resection of an Appendix Mucocele in a Breast Cancer Patient.

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis may be treated with antibiotics, but most surgeons offer laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). Appendiceal mucocele (AMC) is a rare disorder. Surgical removal is recommended due to the risk of pseudomyxoma peritonei. LA has been suggested for this condition. Although rare, breast cancer (BC) may metastasize to the appendix. An appendiceal mass in a breast cancer patient should be approached as a possible metastatic focus until proven otherwise.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old Caucasian woman with invasive lobular BC underwent bilateral mastectomy. An AMC was found on CT scan. LA was done with a strict minimal touch technique. The appendix was resected with a 1 cm margin of the cecal pole, and the specimen was removed from the abdomen in a retrieval bag. Pathology showed benign cystadenoma. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of an appendiceal mass in a BC patient. BC patients with AMC should undergo appendectomy to rule out metastatic disease and to prevent pseudomyxoma peritonei. LA can be performed safely in patients with AMC.