Difference between revisions of "Vermiform appendix"

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'''Vermiform appendix''' is Usually just called ''appendix''.  Taking it out is the bread 'n butter of general surgery.
The '''Vermiform appendix''' is, usually, just called ''appendix''.  Taking it out is the bread 'n butter of general surgery.
 
The appendix is a vestigial structure that is thought to have arisen from a larger cecum.  Larger cecae are often seen in herbivores and thought to facilitate better digestion of plant matter.<ref>Dawkins R. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. ISBN 978-1416594789.</ref>


==Acute appendicitis==
==Acute appendicitis==
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|-
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*LAMN = low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm
*LAMN = low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.
*LAMN ex-appy = LAMN with extra-appendiceal spread
*LAMN ex-appy = LAMN with extra-appendiceal spread.
*MACA = mucinous adenocarcinoma
*MACA = mucinous adenocarcinoma.


===Benign mucinous tumour===
===Benign mucinous tumour===
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==Granulomatous appendicitis==
==Granulomatous appendicitis==
Features:
Most common cause:
*Granulomas.
 
Most common:
*Yersinia appendicitis.<ref name=pmid11257626>{{cite journal |author=Lamps LW, Madhusudhan KT, Greenson JK, ''et al.'' |title=The role of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in granulomatous appendicitis: a histologic and molecular study |journal=Am. J. Surg. Pathol. |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=508–15 |year=2001 |month=April |pmid=11257626 |doi= |url=}}</ref>  
*Yersinia appendicitis.<ref name=pmid11257626>{{cite journal |author=Lamps LW, Madhusudhan KT, Greenson JK, ''et al.'' |title=The role of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in granulomatous appendicitis: a histologic and molecular study |journal=Am. J. Surg. Pathol. |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=508–15 |year=2001 |month=April |pmid=11257626 |doi= |url=}}</ref>  


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*Foreign body reaction.
*Foreign body reaction.
*Interval (delayed) appendectomy.
*Interval (delayed) appendectomy.
===Microscopic===
Features:
*Granulomas.


==Goblet cell carcinoid==
==Goblet cell carcinoid==
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Notes:
Notes:
*Nice review of stains in Pahlavan and Kanthan.<ref name=pmid15967038>{{cite journal |author=Pahlavan PS, Kanthan R |title=Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix |journal=World J Surg Oncol |volume=3 |issue= |pages=36 |year=2005 |month=June |pmid=15967038 |pmc=1182398 |doi=10.1186/1477-7819-3-36 |url=http://wjso.com/content/3/1/36}}</ref>
*Nice review of stains in Pahlavan and Kanthan.<ref name=pmid15967038>{{cite journal |author=Pahlavan PS, Kanthan R |title=Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix |journal=World J Surg Oncol |volume=3 |issue= |pages=36 |year=2005 |month=June |pmid=15967038 |pmc=1182398 |doi=10.1186/1477-7819-3-36 |url=http://wjso.com/content/3/1/36}}</ref>
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Colon]]
*[[Colon]].
*[[Gastrointestinal pathology]]
*[[Gastrointestinal pathology]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:02, 13 May 2010

The Vermiform appendix is, usually, just called appendix. Taking it out is the bread 'n butter of general surgery.

The appendix is a vestigial structure that is thought to have arisen from a larger cecum. Larger cecae are often seen in herbivores and thought to facilitate better digestion of plant matter.[1]

Acute appendicitis

Gross

  • Serosal surface dull.
  • May be perforated.
  • +/-Fibrinous exudate.

Micro. definition

Tumours of the appendix

Adenocarcinoma

  • Like colorectal adenocarcinoma - see colon.

Mucinous tumour

General

  • classification is controversial.
    • the controversy centres on whether to call all mucinous tumours outside of the appendix adenocarcinoma - regardless of whether they have atypia & show invasion.
  • in women - an ovarian primary must be excluded.
    • concurrent bilateral ovarian tumours suggests the tumour originated from the appendix and spread to the ovaries.

Classification[2]

  • benign - low grade mucinous tumour.
  • borderline - mucinous tumour of uncertain malignant potential or borderline mucinous tumour.
  • malignant - mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Five year survival[2]

5 year survival
LAMN 100%
LAMN ex-appy 86%
MACA 44%
  • LAMN = low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.
  • LAMN ex-appy = LAMN with extra-appendiceal spread.
  • MACA = mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Benign mucinous tumour

Micro.

  • Epithelium forms tufts - vaguely resemble serrations, i.e. the saw-tooth pattern in hyperplastic polyps.
  • Single layer of epithelium.
  • Mucin contained (inside appendix only).

Negatives

  • No marked nuclear atypia.
  • No invasion into the lamina propria.

Borderline mucinous tumour

Micro.

  • Same as benign, but mucin outside of the appendix.
  • Cells in mucin, i.e. cellular mucin.

Malignant mucinous tumour

Micro.

  • Marked nuclear pleomorphism.
  • Invasion into the wall.

Granulomatous appendicitis

Most common cause:

  • Yersinia appendicitis.[3]

DDx:[4]

  • Yersinia appendicitis.[3]
    • Yersinia = gram negative rod.
  • Other micro-organism (TB, fungus).
  • Crohn's disease.
  • Sarcoidosis.
  • Foreign body reaction.
  • Interval (delayed) appendectomy.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Granulomas.

Goblet cell carcinoid

  • Rare appendiceal tumour that typically has an aggressive course vis-a-vis other appendiceal carcinoid.[5]
  • AKA crypt cell carcinoma - probably a better descriptor.[5]
  • Mixed (biphasic) tumour with endocrine and exocrine features.

Histology

Features:[6]

  • Mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine tumour;[7] features of both carcinoid and adenocarcinoma.[6]
    • Archictecture: cells arranged in nests or clusters without a lumen.
    • Location: deep to the intestinal crypts (crypts of Lieberkühn); usually do not involve the mucosa.
    • Cytoplasm distended with mucin.
    • DNA: crescentic nucleus (similar to in signet-ring cells).
      • +/-Multinucleation.
      • +/-High mitotic rate.
      • Usually minimal nuclear atypia.

Stains

  • Mucin stains +ve:
    • Mucicarmine, perodic acid-Schiff diastase (PAS-D), alician blue.

IHC

  • Classic neuroendocrine markers:
    • Synaptophysin +ve.
    • Chromogranin +ve.
  • S100 +ve.
  • NSE +ve.
  • Serotonin +ve.

Keratins:

  • Usually CK20 +ve > CK7 +ve.
  • CEA +ve (membrane).

Notes:

  • Nice review of stains in Pahlavan and Kanthan.[6]

See also

References

  1. Dawkins R. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. ISBN 978-1416594789.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Misdraji J, Yantiss RK, Graeme-Cook FM, Balis UJ, Young RH (August 2003). "Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms: a clinicopathologic analysis of 107 cases". Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 27 (8): 1089–103. PMID 12883241. http://meta.wkhealth.com/pt/pt-core/template-journal/lwwgateway/media/landingpage.htm?issn=0147-5185&volume=27&issue=8&spage=1089.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lamps LW, Madhusudhan KT, Greenson JK, et al. (April 2001). "The role of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in granulomatous appendicitis: a histologic and molecular study". Am. J. Surg. Pathol. 25 (4): 508–15. PMID 11257626.
  4. http://granuloma.homestead.com/appendicitis.html
  5. 5.0 5.1 PMID 18042066.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Pahlavan PS, Kanthan R (June 2005). "Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix". World J Surg Oncol 3: 36. doi:10.1186/1477-7819-3-36. PMC 1182398. PMID 15967038. http://wjso.com/content/3/1/36. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid15967038" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid15967038" defined multiple times with different content
  7. PMID 17684764.