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Ruptured appendiceal cystadenoma presenting as right inguinal hernia in a patient with left colon cancer: a case report and review of literature.

Lee YT, Wu HS, Hung MC, Lin ST, Hwang YS, Huang MH

Department of Surgery, Division of general surgery, Chang-Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Lu-Gang, Taiwan. m0931m@yahoo.com.tw

BACKGROUND: Mucoceles resulting from cystadenomas of the appendix are uncommon. Although rare, rupture of the mucoceles can occur with or without causing any abdominal complaint. There are several reports associating colonic malignancy with cystadenomas of the appendix. Herein, we report an unusual and interesting case of right inguinal hernia associated with left colon cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of ruptured mucocele resulting from cystadenoma of the appendix was presented as right inguinal hernia in a 70-year-old male. The patient underwent colonoscopy, x-ray, ultrasound and computed tomography. Localized pseudomyxoma peritonei associated with adenocarcinoma of the descending colon was diagnosed. The patient underwent segmental resection of the colon, appendectomy, debridement of pseudomyxoma and closure of the internal ring of right inguinal canal. He is free of symptoms in one year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Synchronous colon cancer may occur in patients with appendiceal mucoceles. In such patients, the colon should be investigated and colonoscopy can be performed meticulously in cases of ruptured mucoceles and localized pseudomyxoma peritonei. Surgical intervention is the current choice of management.

Published 7 November 2006 in BMC Gastroenterol, 6: 32.
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