Treatment of Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix in Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Appendix (MAA)
Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix (MAA) is recognised as a biologically and histologically distinct entity from colorectal cancer and from colonic-type adenocarcinoma of the appendix. Its management is guided by histologic type and the extent of disease at presentation.
Clinical scenario
This protocol addresses patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix — a subtype with a distinct natural history. The extent and integrity of the lesion at presentation are central to determining the appropriate management pathway.
Treatment approach (overview)
For non-ruptured MAA, the recommended approach centres on complete surgical resection, with technique tailored to the grade and localisation of disease — prioritising intact removal of the lesion.
References
- DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1564433 Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix (MAA) appears to be a biologically and histologically distinct entity from colorectal cancer and from colonic-type adenocarcinoma of the appendix. Management of MAA is dependent on the histologic type and the extent of disease at presentation.
- For those fortunate patients with MAA that has not ruptured, complete surgical resection with appendectomy without spillage of mucin is recommended. For localized, nonruptured, low-grade MAA, appendectomy with en bloc resection of the cystic lesion is likely curative. Regardless of size, it is important to remove the appendix/cyst en bloc without spillage of mucin into the peritoneal cavity.