A case with goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix presenting as mucinous cystadenoma of the cecum. A review of 26 cases in Japan

Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix is a relatively rare neoplasma that has histologic features of both carcinoid and adenocarcinoma. We experienced a case with goblet cell carcinoid, in the appendix of the specimen that had ileocecal resection, diagnosed as mucinous cystadenoma of the cecum. The total number of the cases of goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix which had been reported in Japan was 26. In this report, we describe a woman with goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix. A 65-year-old female was admitted complaining of positive occult blood in stool, which was diagnosed as cystadenoma of the cecum. Ileocecal resection was carried out. We found the goblet cell carcinoid in the appendix. In most of the 26 cases in Japan, appendectomy was performed under a diagnosis of acute appendicitis, and goblet cell carcinoid was found in the resected appendices after surgery. In five of the 26 cases in Japan, metastasis was found during surgery or recurrence was noticed after surgery and it was shown that goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix was potentially malignant. In our case, there were no symptoms before surgery, no metastasis of the liver and lymph node during surgery, and no recurrence 2 years and 7 months after surgery. It is interesting that goblet cell carcinoid in the head of the appendix produced much mucin and mucinous cystadenoma in the neck of the appendix was found discontinuously.