Mucosal hyperplasia (mucocele) of the vermiform appendix

Abstract

Mucocele of the vermiform appendix was the term formerly used to describe all mucin-secreting lesions of the appendix. In actuality, there are three distinct clinicopathologic entities based on histologic differences. These are mucosal hyperplasia, cystadenoma, and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix. Mucosal hyperplasia is usually an incidental finding during laparotomy for an unrelated condition. The case presented herein differed in that the patient had a three-month history of abdominal pain with nothing to suggest the presence of appendicitis, and a 3-cm opacification overlying the right iliac bone on x-ray.