Appendicular mucinous adenocarcinoma associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare and difficult imaging diagnosis.

Abstract

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease, caused by primary mucinous tumors that arise most frequently from appendix, ovary, or pancreas. Usually diagnosis is made by computed tomography, but ultrasonography can be a very useful imagistic method, if this diagnosis is taken into account by the observer. We present a case of a PMP caused by an appendiceal mucinous carcinoma, in a 34-year-old male patient, with family history of malignancies, diagnosed in our department. He was thereafter surgically treated - appendiceal resection, peritoneal lavage - followed by chemotherapy. We underline the importance of ultrasonography, even though at first encounter, the diagnosis of PMP being generally difficult.