Abstract
In primary carcinoid of appendix, mucin secreting tumors are rare and difficult to distinguish from adenocarcinoma. This tumor is called“mucinous carcinoid”. We experienced a case of mucinous carcinoid in appendix which was excised under the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. A 38-year-old male was admitted with the complaint of right lower abdominal pain and diagnosed as acute appendicitis and appendectomy was carried out. The tip of the excised appendix swelled and pus issued by incision. Histological specimens were made from the whole length of the appendix, and they were examined by light microscope. Mucin secreting, relatively small cells contained signet-ring type cells and infiltrated in the area: about 2 cm distant from the tip to about 1.5 cm distant from the base and from the mucosa to the subserosa. These cells showed positive stain by PAS, Alcian blue and Grimelius. We propose that histological specimens must be made as many as possible from the excised appendix and be examined carefully from the tip to the base, because there is the example as this case which was diagnosed as benign acute appendicitis macroscopically, however mucinous carcinoid microscopically.
