PURPOSE

This study was conducted to describe the clinicopathological characteristics of appendiceal tumors and to evaluate their appropriate management.

METHODS

Between September 2000 and September 2005, 28 appendiceal tumors were identified by a retrospective review of 3,744 appendectomies.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients were found to have appendiceal tumors (incidence, 0.7%).The largest single group of tumors were benign mucinous cystadenomas (50%); carcinoids (32.1%) were next, and they were followed by malignant tumors (17.9%). Four out of five patients who had malignant appendiceal tumors presented with periappendiceal abscess. None of the patients was correctly diagnosed preoperatively. One-stage curative resection was possible in more than 76% of the patients, and the rate of making the correct preoperative diagnosis was 35%.

CONCLUSION

Most appendiceal tumors presented with appendicitis and periappendiceal abscess. Appendiceal tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis when an unexpected appendiceal mass is encountered during appendectomy.