Chronic abdominal pain, appendiceal mucinous neoplasm, and concurrent intestinal endometriosis: a case report

• Main Authors: Kurogochi Takanori, Fujita Tetsuji, Iida Naoko, Etoh Ken, Ogawa Masaichi, Yanaga Katsuhiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-09-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Subjects: Chronic abdominal pain; Intestinal endometriosis; Mucinous neoplasm of the appendix
• Online Access: http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/6/1/327

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Although both appendiceal tumor and intestinal endometriosis have been reported as rare causes of abdominal pain, the coexistence of appendiceal mucinous neoplasm and ileal endometriosis has not previously been reported.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 41-year-old Japanese woman presented with a positive fecal occult blood test and a 3-year history of menstruation-related lower abdominal pain. A colonoscopy demonstrated extrinsic compression of the cecum, suggesting a mass arising from the appendix or adjacent structures. Abdominal imaging showed a 6-cm cystic mass with intraluminal thick fluids originating from the appendix. At ileocecal resection for an appendiceal tumor, a 2-cm mass in the terminal ileum was incidentally found, which was included in the surgical specimen. Microscopic examination confirmed a diagnosis of a mucinous neoplasm of the appendix with endometriosis of the terminal ileum.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To avoid urgent surgery for subsequent serious events associated with disease progression, appendiceal tumor and intestinal endometriosis should be ruled out in patients with chronic abdominal pain.</p>