Incidentally Discovered Giant Mucocele of the Appendix

Mucocele of the appendix is a rare but well-recognized entity that can mimic several common clinical conditions or present as an incidental radiological or surgical finding at laparotomy. Mucoceles are characterized by distension of the lumen due to accumulation of mucoid substance. They can result from mucosal hyperplasia, mucinous cystadenoma, or mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. If untreated, they may rupture producing the potentially fatal entity Pseudomyxoma peritonei, which is difficult to treat both surgically or medically. Appendectomy is used for simple mucocele or for cystadenoma. Preoperative diagnosis of a mucocele is helpful at the time of surgical intervention with careful mobilization, particularly of large lesions reducing the possibility of rupture and complications. The authors report a case of a 65-year-old man presenting with peritonitis due to a pre-pyloric gastric perforation also having an incidental giant mucocele of the appendix.