Background & objective: Appendix carcinoid tumor is a rare disease, and lack of classic clinical features. This study was to explore clinical characteristics and treatment principles of appendix carcinoid tumor.
Methods: Clinical data, surgical procedures, and prognosis of 13 patients with appendix carcinoid tumor received appendectomy from 1985 to 2000 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The diagnosis was established through operation and pathology. Patients with appendix carcinoid tumor comprised 0.29% of 4483 patients underwent appendectomy during the same period. The tumors were located at the tip and the middle of appendix in 12 patients(92.3%). The diameter of tumor in 12 patients(92.3%) was less than 2 cm. Single appendectomy was performed on 11 patients, right-side colonectomy was performed on 2 patients. Nine patients were alive and remained free of tumor recurrence and metastasis, 3 were lost of follow up, and 1 died of heart disease. The 5-year survival rate is 100%.
Conclusions: Appendix carcinoid tumor has no specific clinical symptom, and located at the tip and the middle of appendix; tumor with diameter of < 1 cm may be resected by single appendectomy.