Treatment of Colonic-Type Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix
This protocol addresses the management of colonic-type adenocarcinoma arising in the appendix — a histologically distinct subtype in which workup, staging, and treatment parallel the approach applied to colorectal malignancy.
Clinical Scenario
Colonic-type adenocarcinoma is one of several discrete subtypes of appendix cancer, classified separately from mucinous adenocarcinoma, goblet cell adenocarcinoma, and neuroendocrine carcinoma. In this subtype, the clinical approach mirrors that of colon cancer.
Treatment Approach
Surgical management is the primary treatment modality for early-stage disease, with the scope of resection determined by specific tumor staging and pathological criteria outlined in the full protocol.
Complete algorithm, eligibility criteria, and required evaluation steps are detailed in the structured regimen →
References
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1564433
For the purposes of this review, appendix cancers will be broadly classified as: colonic-type adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, goblet cell adenocarcinoma (GCA), and neuroendocrine carcinoma (aka. "typical carcinoid").
The workup, staging, and treatment of colonic-type adenocarcinoma arising in the appendix mirror that of colon cancer.
Tis tumors resected with negative margins can be managed with appendectomy alone.
Appendectomy alone may be sufficient if these lesions are grade 1 or 2, have no angiolymphatic invasion, and have negative resection margins.
All patients should undergo complete colonoscopy to evaluate for synchronous colorectal lesions.
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