DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF APPENDICEAL MUCOCELES

Preoperative diagnosis of appendiceal mucoceles is rare. If untreated, one type of mucoceles may rupture producing a potentially fatal entit y known as pseudomyxoma peritonei. The importance of diagnosing append iceal mucoceles is highlighted through a case presentation of a woman who had an incidental finding of mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix during colonoscopic evaluation for occult gastrointestinal bleeding. A detailed review of the medical literature regarding appendiceal mucoc eles is presented, with emphasis on the pathologic, clinical, radiolog ic, and evolving endoscopic features. Surgical options and prognosis a re discussed.