Impending Rupture With a Twisted Huge Appendiceal Mucocele Treated With Totally Laparoscopic Resection: A Case Series

Abstract

Torsion of the appendix is rare, and appendiceal mucocele can be one of its causes. The first case was of a 49-year-old man who visited the emergency room (ER) for abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed appendiceal mucocele with suspected torsion and rupture. The patient underwent laparoscopic exploration and appendectomy. The second case was of a 69-year-old man who visited the ER for epigastric pain. Abdominal CT showed suspicious appendiceal mucocele with ischemic change, indicating torsion of the appendix. The twisted appendix was successfully removed by laparoscopic exploration. An appendiceal mucocele is one of the causes of twisted appendix. With torsion, the mucocele can be diagnosed as rupture by ischemia which may lead to pseudomyxoma peritonei. For this reason, open laparotomy has traditionally been preferred. However, an unruptured appendiceal mucocele or impending rupture with torsion of the appendiceal mucocele can be treated with totally laparoscopic surgery.