Missed Gastric Cancer Metastasis to the Appendix: Case Report and Literature Review

Am J Case Rep. 2020 Jan 5:21:e920010. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.920010.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer metastasis to the appendix is a rare condition that might present with symptoms of acute appendicitis or remain asymptomatic and be diagnosed incidentally. This report summaries 6 previously reported cases in addition to the presented case. CASE REPORT We report a 54-years-old female patient who presented with gastric cancer metastasis to the appendix that was found incidentally in the second surgery when she underwent bowel resection due to bowel entrapment in internal hernia, a complication of her primary gastric cancer surgical intervention. Six case-reports on gastric cancer metastasis to the appendix were reviewed. The metastasis was symptomatic in 4 cases, and solitary in 3 cases. The diagnosis was delayed in 4 cases as there was no evidence of metastasis at the diagnosis of the primary tumor; appendectomy was performed in all cases. The prognosis of the cases varied considerably. CONCLUSIONS We question the real incidence of appendiceal metastasis in gastric cancer, and the benefit-risk ratio of appendectomy in every gastrectomy. Guidelines on management of similar cases is also needed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Appendiceal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Colectomy
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Gastrectomy / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Leucovorin / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Missed Diagnosis
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil

Supplementary concepts

  • Folfox protocol