PSEUDOMYXOMA ON APPENDICULAR MUCOCELE

Mucocele of the appendix is a descriptive term for mucinous distension of the appendiceal lumen (vermiform appendix) regardless of the underlying pathology. It refers to the progressive retrograde dilatation of the vermiform appendix with concomitant intraluminal accumulation of the mucoid substance. It is an uncommon pathology that occurs in both sexes. it especially poses the problem of differential diagnosis in particular in women because of the location of clinical symptoms in the right iliac fossa. The incidence is estimated between 0.2 % and 0.4 % of the appendectomied specimens.The estimated incidence is approximately 1/1 000 000/year. The disease onset is usually after the age of 40 years and more frequently affects females.The means of medical imaging are mainly ultrasound and scanner. On CT typical mucocele appears as a cecal-based, rounded and well-defined mass, thin-walled, with fine parietal calcifications CT density is variable, from fluid to tissue. A stercolith is sometimes visible at the base of the appendix. The wall of the mucocele may be thickened, irregular, taking the contrast there may be peri-appendicular inflammation, which may be inflammatory or tumor, without specificity.The treatment of unbroken appendicular mucocele is surgical, preferably by laparotomy than laparoscopy. The appendectomy is performed, without breaking the appendix, with complete resection of the meso-appendix, and sampling for cytology of the peritoneal fluid.