Philippart P, da Costa P M, Heymans O, Pector J C, de Saint-Aubin N, Andry G
Department of Digestive and Endoscopic Surgery, Brugmann University Hospital, 4, Place A. Van Gechuten, B-1020 Bruxelles, Belgium.
Hepatogastroenterology. 2000 Nov-Dec;47(36):1627-9.
Metastases are a common feature during the evolution of breast cancer. However, gastrointestinal metastases, and especially ceco-appendicular ones, are very rare. Melanoma however frequently metastasize in the gastrointestinal tract. Ceco-appendicular metastases do not display any specific signs in cancerous patients. These rare metastases must be considered in the diagnosis of right lower quadrant pain in cancerous patients. The main differential diagnosis includes neutropenic enterocolitis, acute appendicitis, malignant intestinal obstruction and perforation of the bowel. The morbidity of gastrointestinal complications in patients with metastatic cancer receiving chemotherapy is significant and surgery is often the only chance of survival. The major clinical decision is whether or not to operate.
