Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the appendix: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

AIM:

We report on a rare case of appendiceal primary neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) and discuss three cases previously described.

CASE REPORT:

A 58-year-old woman presented with acute abdominal pain and a low-grade fever. She was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed NEC. Immunohistochemical analyses were positive for synaptophysin, chromogranin, and CD-56. The tumour was high grade and the Ki-67 index was >20%. Primary NEC of the appendix is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an appendiceal NEC that meets the 2010 diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization.

CONCLUSION:

Due to its non-specific clinical presentation, NEC is often misdiagnosed as appendicitis; however, it can advance rapidly and carries a very poor prognosis, despite chemotherapy. In the future, a treatment protocol for immunohistochemical analyses should be established to improve the survival rate.

• Authors: Kodai Tomioka, Yoshihiro Fukoe, Yugen Lee, Masahiro Lee, Yusuke Wada, Takeshi Aoki, Masahiko Murakami
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 33 Issue 6 Pg. 2635-8 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 23749920 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• CD56 Antigen
• Chromogranins
• Ki-67 Antigen
• SYP protein, human
• Synaptophysin

Topics

• Appendectomy
• Appendiceal Neoplasms (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Appendicitis (diagnosis)
• Appendix (pathology, surgery)
• CD56 Antigen (metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Chromogranins (metabolism)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Ki-67 Antigen (metabolism)
• Laparoscopy
• Middle Aged
• Radiography
• Synaptophysin (metabolism)