Mucinous tumours of the appendix

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Mucinous tumours of the appendix are uncommon tumours of the vermiform appendix that can have a benign or malignant behaviour.

Mucinous tumours of the appendix
Diagnosis in short

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix. H&E stain.

LM mucin, +/- nuclear atypia
Subtypes see LMDDx
LM DDx mucinous adenocarcinoma, entrapped mucin, mucinous cystadenoma
Site appendix

Prevalence uncommon
Prognosis dependent on stage and presence/absence of nuclear atypia
Clin. DDx other appendiceal tumours, metastatic tumours
Treatment right hemicolectomy or appendectomy (?)
Mucinous tumours of the appendix
External resources
EHVSC 10183

Benign appendiceal mucocele and appendiceal mucocele redirect here.

General

  • There are many classifications and they are controversial.[1]
    • The controversy centres on whether to call all mucinous tumours outside of the appendix adenocarcinoma - regardless of whether they have atypia & show invasion.
  • Panarelli and Yantiss created a nice summary table - that compare the classifications - see: comparison of classifications (archivesofpathology.org).[1]
  • In women - an ovarian primary must be excluded.
    • Concurrent bilateral ovarian tumours suggests the tumour originated from the appendix and spread to the ovaries.
  • The classification by Misdraji et al.[2] is a good starting point if one is unfamilar with the topic, as it is the least complicated.

Misdraji classification

  • Benign - low grade mucinous tumour.
  • Borderline - mucinous tumour of uncertain malignant potential or borderline mucinous tumour.
  • Malignant - mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Five year survival (in a series of 107 cases) as per Misdraji classification:[2]

Tumour Five year survival
LAMN 100%
LAMN extra-appendiceal spread 86%
MACA 44%
  • LAMN = low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.
  • LAMN extra-appendiceal = low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm with extra-appendiceal spread.
  • MACA = mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix.

World Health Organization classification

WHO classification:

  • Adenoma with low-grade dysplasia.
  • Adenoma with high-grade dysplasia.
  • Low-grade invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma
    • Confined to the appendiceal wall.
    • Outside of the appendix.
  • High-grade invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Comparison between Misdraji and WHO classification

Adapted from Panarelli and Yantiss:[1]

Stage Cytologic dysplasia Misdraji World Health Organization
Confined to the mucosa low-grade low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) mucinous adenoma, negative for high-grade dysplasia
Confined to the mucosa high-grade non-invasive mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix mucinous adenoma with high-grade dysplasia
At least into the submucosa, confined to the appendix low-grade low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma, low-grade
At least into the submucosa, confined to the appendix high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix (MACA) invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma, high-grade
Extra-appendiceal spread low-grade low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma, low-grade
Extra-appendiceal spread high-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix (MACA) invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma, high-grade

Microscopic

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm

  • AKA benign mucinous tumour of the appendix.

Microscopic:

  • Single layer of epithelium with tufts.
    • Vaguely resemble serrations, i.e. the saw-tooth pattern in hyperplastic polyps of the colon.
  • Mucin contained (inside appendix only).
  • No marked nuclear atypia.

Note:

  • May be deceptively bland appearing from a cytologic perspective.

Images

www:

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm with extra-appendiceal spread

  • AKA mucinous borderline tumour of the appendix.

Microscopic:

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

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix

  • AKA malignant mucinous tumour of the appendix.

Microscopic:

  • Marked nuclear pleomorphism.
  • Invasion into the appendiceal wall.

Sign out

LAMN

VERMIFORM APPENDIX, APPENDECTOMY:
- LOW-GRADE APPENDICEAL MUCINOUS NEOPLASM.
- ACUTE APPENDICITIS.
- ACUTE PERIAPPENDICITIS. 
VERMIFORM APPENDIX AND CECUM, APPENDECTOMY WITH CECAL CUFF:
- LOW-GRADE APPENDICEAL MUCINOUS NEOPLASM (MUCINOUS CYSTADENOMA).
- MARGINS NEGATIVE FOR MUCINOUS NEOPLASM.

COMMENT:
No extra-appendiceal mucin is identified. There is no invasion into the appendiceal wall.

WHO

APPENDIX, APPENDECTOMY:
- APPENDICEAL MUCINOUS CYSTADENOMA WITH EXTENSIVE CALCIFICATION.
-- NEGATIVE FOR HIGH-GRADE DYSPLASIA.
- NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Panarelli, NC.; Yantiss, RK. (Oct 2011). "Mucinous neoplasms of the appendix and peritoneum.". Arch Pathol Lab Med 135 (10): 1261-8. doi:10.5858/arpa.2011-0034-RA. PMID 21970481.
  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 Misdraji, J.; Burgart, LJ.; Lauwers, GY. (Dec 2004). "Defective mismatch repair in the pathogenesis of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms and adenocarcinomas.". Mod Pathol 17 (12): 1447-54. doi:10.1038/modpathol.3800212. PMID 15354187.