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Gastroenterology Research

Case Report

Volume 9, Number 1, February 2016, pages 22-25

Mixed Adenocarcinoid Tumor Presenting as Acute Appendicitis

Appendix tumors are rare, contributing to only 1% of appendectomy specimens and only about one half of 1% of intestinal neoplasms [1]. Among all, carcinoid tumors are the most common tumors contributing to over 50% of all tumors. Here we present a case of mixed features of tumor consisting of both carcinoid and adenocarcinoma (signet ring cell type) features which is a rare type; to the best of our knowledge, only few cases of these tumors have been reported so far. Adenocarcinoid is more aggressive than carcinoids but adenocarcinoid has worse prognosis compared to malignant carcinoid but better than appendiceal adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoids have lowest frequency of regional node metastasis but they have potential to spread intraperitoneally as described in the case below. Mixed feature of tumor consisting of carcinoid and adenocarcinoma is a rare type.

A 53-year-old male presented with 1 day duration of acute severe right lower quadrant abdominal pain, sharp, non-radiating associated with fever, chills and nausea but no vomiting or weight loss. On physical exam, his vital signs were blood pressure 126/68 mm Hg, pulse 90/min, respiratory rate 14/min, and temperature 99.4 °F. Abdominal exam revealed distension tenderness to Mcburney’s point, with guarding and rigidity but bowel sounds were normal. Laboratory data showed hemoglobin 13.4 g/dL, hematocrit 40.1%, white count 8.1 × 10³/µL, platelets 172 × 10³/µL, sodium 133 mmol/L, potassium 4.6 mmol/L, chloride 99 mmol/L, bicarbonate 20 mmol/L, BUN 24 mg/dL, creatinine 2.1 mg/dL and glucose 181 mg/dL. Computed tomography (CT) scan of abdomen showed the perforated appendicitis with two appendicoliths seen in the right lower quadrant (Fig. 1). Laparoscopic appendectomy with drainage of periappendiceal abscess was performed. Surgical pathology of appendix showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell (< 50% signet ring component) and carcinoid features involving muscular wall (Fig. 2). Tumor was penetrating and perforating the visceral serosa and diffusely infiltrating > 4/5 wall of the proximal portion of appendix with lymphovascular invasion. Special studies showed that the tumor is immunoreactive to CK20 (Fig. 3), focal to CD56, chromogranin (Fig. 4), synaptophysin; negative to CK7 (Fig. 5), TTF-1, PSA and CDx2. Mucin stain is positive (Fig. 6). The immunostains support the diagnosis. Patient was started on chemotherapy and after 3 months, patient complained of abdominal pain for which CT abdomen was performed which showed findings suspicious for spreading cancer. Patient failed chemotherapy and underwent hemicolectomy and peritonectomy as there were seedings on the peritoneum.

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Figure 1. CT abdomen of pelvis showing appendicolith.

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Figure 2. Mixed adenocarcinoid tumor.

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Figure 3. CK20 positive staining.

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Figure 4. Chromogranin positive stain.

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Figure 5. CK7 negative staining.

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Figure 6. Mucin positive staining.

The existence of mixed adenoendocrine patterns in digestive system has been well documented. The first description date back in 1924 was reported [2]. A great number of these cases have been reported in appendix [3], and most of the cases are reported as adenocarcinoids/goblet cell carcinoids [3]. Edmonds et al [4] reported the largest series of 86 cases of goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix. Carr and Sobin [5] described 13 cases of dual carcinoid/epithelial neoplasia occurring in the appendix. Jain and Das [6] described a collision tumor involving the terminal ileum and cecum. To our knowledge, only few cases of collision tumor have been reported and the one reported by Rossi et al [7] is adenocarcinoma associated with small cell carcinoma.

The histology of composite/collision tumors is not well understood despite the embryonic origin of composite tumors [8] is considered to be derived from a single event in which the initial neoplastic clone undergoes divergent differentiation, while collision tumors are considered to be of biclonal derivation, resulting from two separate but adjacent neoplasms [8]. However, this classification is not universally accepted since the cell of origin is still not very clear [2].

Histopathologically, collision tumors usually do not show transition [9], although intimately juxtaposed not intermixed. Single tumor component is observed at metastasis site; on the other hand, composite has both glandular and carcinoid elements in the metastasis site and also endocrine and epithelial cells are intermixed in same tissue and transitions are observed [9].

It is important to differentiate the type of tumor because of the difference in clinical behavior. Localized carcinoid tumors have excellent prognosis with 5-year survival approaching 99%. Some cases of goblet cell carcinoid or adenocarcinoma were reported to be of low malignancy. But the majority of non-localized cases reported a malignancy of intermediate grade. However, predicting the prognosis of either collision or composite tumors still remains a matter of debate. Contrary to former belief, composite tumors do not have a better prognosis than ordinary adenocarcinoma [10, 11]. In the present case, we described a case of collision tumor with features of both adenocarcinoma (signet ring cells) and carcinoid with metastasis to peritoneum with adenocarcinoma elements. And also patient had failed chemotherapy and finally ended up with hemicolectomy and peritonectomy.

Treating a case of collision or composite tumors is really challenging. In the above case, we described a patient with collision tumor who presented with appendicitis and had appendectomy with failed chemotherapy, and ultimately ended up with hemicolectomy and peritonectomy with ileostomy. This tumor had aggressive clinical course and behaved like adenocarcinoma than carcinoid.

Author Contributions

KR, WJ and SZ drafted the manuscript. SS, IS and AY coordinated and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

This is to state that there has been no activity or involvements that will raise the question of bias in this case report or any of the conclusions or opinions that it stands for.

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