[Clinical, pathological and radiological characters of appendiceal mucocele].
OBJECTIVE
To improve capability of appendiceal mucocele diagnosis via analyzes its clinical, pathological basis and radiological results.


METHODS
Summarize 18 cases with pathological diagnosed appendiceal mucocele in PUMC Hospital since January 1985 till september 2004, including 4 males and 14 females (1:3.5), age ranged from 31 to 78 yrs old (average 59.8 years old). Eleven cases underwent barium enema, in which 9 cases received abdominal CT scanning and 1 case received CT virtual colonography.


RESULTS
(1) CLINICAL RESULTS: 8 cases (44.4%) had right lower abdominal pain, 12 cases (66.7%) had palpable abdominal mass. (2) Radiological results: barium enema showed extrinsic oppressed filling defect at the end of cecum without destruction of mucosa; CT scanning showed right lower abdominal cystic mass, 75% with cystic wall calcification, massive septal mucous ascites was seen in one case with pseudomyxoma peritonei; CT virtual colonography showed clearly the extra cavity and intracavity changes at cecum. (3) Pathological results: simple mucocele (4 cases, 22.2%), mucous cystadenoma (12 cases, 66.7%) and mucous cystadenocarcinoma (2 cases, 11.1%)


CONCLUSIONS
There are four pathological types in appendiceal mucocele. Radiological characters of appendiceal mucocele have distinct specificities while its clinical ones not. Radiological procedures are vital for correct clinical diagnosis.
Pan
Wei-dong
WD
Department of Radiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Xue
Hua-dan
HD
Qin
Ming-wei
MW
Zhao
Rong-guo
RG
Liang
Ji-xiang
JX
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001063:Appendiceal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D020685:Colonoscopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009078:Mucocele / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed