Porcelain appendix: a rare mimicker of the acute abdomen

BMJ Case Rep. 2024 Dec 18;17(12):e260475. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2024-260475.

Abstract

An appendiceal mucocele is a rare clinical entity often mimicking that of acute appendicitis in a majority of cases leading to incidental intraoperative findings. Nevertheless, appropriate diagnosis is vital prior to surgery to prevent complications such as pseudomyxoma peritonei. This report details a case of a man in his 70s, who was admitted to the emergency department with right iliac fossa pain with imaging showing wall thickening of the caecum and the ascending colon. During surgery, a calcified appendix raised the suspicion of a neoplastic process leading to a right hemicolectomy. The histology revealed a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.

Keywords: Cancer intervention; General surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen, Acute* / etiology
  • Aged
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Appendicitis / diagnosis
  • Appendicitis / surgery
  • Appendix* / diagnostic imaging
  • Appendix* / pathology
  • Appendix* / surgery
  • Calcinosis / diagnosis
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / surgery
  • Cecal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cecal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Cecal Diseases / surgery
  • Colectomy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mucocele / diagnosis
  • Mucocele / diagnostic imaging
  • Mucocele / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed