Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bell D, Gilcrease-Garcia B, et al. Appendiceal carcinoid. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 03 Jun 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-41519
Appendiceal carcinoids are rare overall but represent the most common tumour of the appendix. The appendix is also one of the most common (but not the most common) locations for gastrointestinal carcinoid tumours.
Appendiceal carcinoids can present as the obstructive cause of acute appendicitis or less commonly a mucocele. Often they are incidental findings 3.
Appendiceal carcinoids are neuroendocrine tumours that classically arise at the appendiceal tip from subepithelial neuroendocrine cells 4.
Histology
Two types are described 4:
- classic type
- Goblet cell carcinoid
- considered a distinct tumour, separate from classic neuroendocrine tumour, with its own evolving classification based on degree of differentiation 5
CT
- small (usually <1 cm), round masses or diffuse appendiceal thickening
- most commonly at the appendiceal tip (75%) 1,2
Treatment and prognosis
Appendiceal carcinoids have a more benign course than other gastrointestinal carcinoids, rarely metastasising, with a 5-year survival rate of >90% 2,3.
Metastases, when they do occur are to regional nodes, and rarely the liver 6,7.
- other causes of mucocele of the appendix
- appendicitis
- other appendiceal neoplasms
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1. Brant WE, Helms C. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1608319121. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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2. Levy AD, Sobin LH. From the archives of the AFIP: Gastrointestinal carcinoids: imaging features with clinicopathologic comparison. Radiographics. 2007;27 (1): 237-57. Radiographics (full text) - doi:10.1148/rg.271065169 - Pubmed citation
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3. Pickhardt PJ, Levy AD, Rohrmann CA et-al. Primary neoplasms of the appendix: radiologic spectrum of disease with pathologic correlation. Radiographics. 2003;23 (3): 645-62. Radiographics (full text) - doi:10.1148/rg.233025134 - Pubmed citation
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4. Ganeshan D, Bhosale P, Yang T et-al. Imaging features of carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;201 (4): 773-86. doi:10.2214/AJR.12.9758 - Pubmed citation
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5. Roy P, Chetty R. Goblet cell carcinoid tumors of the appendix: An overview. (2010) World journal of gastrointestinal oncology. 2 (6): 251-8. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v2.i6.251 - Pubmed
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6. Elkbuli A, Sanchez C, McKenney M, Boneva D. Incidental neuro-endocrine tumor of the appendix: Case report and literature review. (2019) Annals of medicine and surgery (2012). 43: 44-47. doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2019.05.015 - Pubmed
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7. Leonards LM, Pahwa A, Patel MK, Petersen J, Nguyen MJ, Jude CM. Neoplasms of the Appendix: Pictorial Review with Clinical and Pathologic Correlation. (2017) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 37 (4): 1059-1083. doi:10.1148/rg.2017160150 - Pubmed
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