Appendiceal Neuroendocrine Tumors: Clinical Features and Treatment Approaches - A Case Series Report

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Tran Ngoc Dung, Dang Thai Tra, Nguyen Thuy Linh, Vu Ngoc Ha, Do Nhu Binh, Dang Thanh Chung

Abstract

Introduction: This case series article presents a cross-sectional investigation of five Vietnamese patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis and were subsequently diagnosed with appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors (ANETs). ANETs are a rare type of tumor that originates from enterochromaffin cells and are usually asymptomatic but can secrete vasoactive substances leading to carcinoid syndrome. The study aims to analyze the clinical features and treatment approaches of patients diagnosed with ANETs following appendectomy for acute appendicitis.


Case presentation: The patients presented with epigastric abdominal pain radiating to the right lower quadrant, and histopathological analysis of the specimens obtained during laparoscopic appendectomy was performed using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical staining with markers such as CD56, Synaptophysin, Chromogranin A, Ki-67, CK7, and CK20. The study revealed that 80% of tumors were found in the appendix tip, and two patients had tumors ranging from 1 to 2 cm in size. One patient had a high mitotic index and a high expression of Ki-67, indicating a more aggressive tumor.


Conclusions: The study emphasizes the need to carefully evaluate the risk when the appendix is affected by NETs, especially in the case of small lesions. The article concludes that despite imaging examinations being more likely to suggest a different diagnosis, neuroendocrine tumors cannot be ruled out without histopathology tests. The findings of this study will be of interest to clinicians and researchers in gastroenterology, oncology, and pathology, as it advances our knowledge of the clinical and pathological characteristics of ANETs and their treatment approaches.

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How to Cite
Tran Ngoc Dung, Dang Thai Tra, Nguyen Thuy Linh, Vu Ngoc Ha, Do Nhu Binh, Dang Thanh Chung. (2023). Appendiceal Neuroendocrine Tumors: Clinical Features and Treatment Approaches - A Case Series Report. Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 6(5s), 01–09. Retrieved from https://jrtdd.com/index.php/journal/article/view/483
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