Carcinoma metastatic to the vermiform appendix

Summary

Three patients with metastatic carcinoma to the appendix are reported. One patient had appendiceal perforation with diffuse peritonitis. All three patients died. The primary neoplasms were located in the lung in two patients and the stomach in one patient. Two of the primary tumors were adenocarcinomas and the third was a poorly differentiated carcinoma. The finding of metastasis to the appendix carries a grave prognosis. It is likely that all carcinomas metastatic to the appendix would gradually produce acute appendicitis as a result of luminal obstruction if enough time were allowed to elapse.