Appendiceal mucocele

Changed by Tim Luijkx, 19 Nov 2014

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Appendiceal mucocoeles occur when there is abnormal accumulation of muocus mucus within the appendix. The tenacious and viscous mucousmucus causes obstruction of the appendiceal neck and results in dilatation of the lumen.

Epidemiology

The reported prevalence is at appendectomy is 0.2-0.3%. They are thought to typically present in middle aged individuals.

Pathology

The term mucocele is simply a macroscopic description of an appendix that is grossly distended by mucus 7. They result from chronic appendiceal obstruction that may be caused by either benign or malignant lesions:

Variants
  • myxoglobulosis: seen as with multiple small intraluminal globules which can calcify and produce 1-10 mm mobile calcifications

Radiographic features

Fluoroscopy: barium enema

If a contrast examination is performed, there is usually non-filling or partial-filling of the appendix. Where there is a large mucocoele, the associated mass effect can cause indentation or lateral displacement of the caecum.

Ultrasound

Typically cystic mass with variable internal echogenicity 8. The presence of an "onion sign" (sonographic layering within a cystic mass) is considered a highly suggestive feature 2,6.

CT
  • typically seen as a well-circumscribed, low-attenuation, spherical or tubular mass contiguous with the base of the caecum
  • the finding of curvilinear mural calcification suggests the diagnosis, but is seen in less than 50% of cases 
  • intra-luminal bubbles of gas, or an air-fluid level within a mucocele suggest the presence of superinfection, which can occur in both benign and malignant mucocoeles
MRI

Seen as a rounded right iliac fossa mass.

Typical signal characteristics include:

  • T1: depending on the mucin concentration, the signal may be variably hypointense to isointense 9
  • T2: hyperintense

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment is usually surgical.

Complications

Differential diagnosis

Differentiating benign (non-neoplastic mucocoele and mucinous cystadenoma) and malignant (mucinous cystadenocarcinoma) appendiceal lesions can be difficult. Wang et al 10 found a statistically significant difference in wall irregularity and soft-tissue thickening between malignant and benign cases. 

  • -<p><strong>Appendiceal mucocoeles</strong> occur when there is abnormal accumulation of muocus within the <a href="/articles/appendix">appendix</a>. The tenacious and viscous mucous causes obstruction of the appendiceal neck and results in dilatation of the lumen.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>The reported prevalence is at appendectomy is 0.2-0.3%. They are thought typically present in middle aged individuals.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The term mucocele is simply a macroscopic description of an appendix that is grossly distended by mucus <sup>7</sup>. They result from chronic appendiceal obstruction that may be caused by either benign or malignant lesions:</p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Appendiceal mucocoeles</strong> occur when there is abnormal accumulation of mucus within the <a href="/articles/appendix">appendix</a>. The tenacious and viscous mucus causes obstruction of the appendiceal neck and results in dilatation of the lumen.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>The reported prevalence is at appendectomy is 0.2-0.3%. They are thought to typically present in middle aged individuals.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The term mucocele is simply a macroscopic description of an appendix that is grossly distended by mucus <sup>7</sup>. They result from chronic appendiceal obstruction that may be caused by either benign or malignant lesions:</p><ul>

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