OBJECTIVES: To report the case of finding of appendix mucocele in intraoperative cesarean section, with subsequent diagnosis of neoplasia.
METHOD: Descriptive study, case report type, including data on the patient’s clinical evolution, collected from the medical record. For literature review, a search was performed in the Scielo and Pubmed databases.
RESULTS: This is the case of a 35-year-old pregnant woman, tertigest, who presented recurrent episodes of pain in the right iliac fossa, without other symptoms. At 34 weeks of gestation, an acute abdominal condition began, requiring termination of pregnancy. During the intraoperative period, a large-sized vermiform appendix was noted, opting for appendectomy followed by investigation. Histopathological analysis of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of low-grade mucinous neoplasm of the appendix, without neoplastic infiltration of the serosa.
DISCUSSION: the classification of appendix mucinous neoplasms is a subject of discussion. In general, appendix neoplasms have their first presentation as a picture of acute appendicitis or as an accidental finding during a surgical procedure for another reason, as in this case. Treatment is surgical, and only appendectomy or right hemicolectomy can be performed. However, because the surgical indication is performed for suspected appendicitis, the treatment is usually carried out urgently, without adequate planning and prior histological study. During the procedure, perforation of the appendix should be avoided, due to the risk of pseudomyxoma peritonei.
