The appendix as a metastatic target for male urogenital tumours

Prostate cancer metastasis mimicking appendicitis—A rare but important differential diagnosis in PET/CT imaging

“…Only a small percentage of disseminated prostate cancer shows metastasis in the digestive system or the peritoneum, [1] and even more uncommonly carcinomatosis in relation to the appendix. In all previously reported cases of prostatic metastasis in the appendix, the patients presented with acute appendicitis and had an appendectomy performed from which metastasis was confirmed through histopathological assessment of the surgical specimen [ [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] ]. Acute appendicitis is found to be the most frequent initial manifestation of appendiceal tumors, seen in 30%-50% of patients [15] .…”

“…These image findings could equally come as a result of the extension of the metastasis or from a superimposed appendicitis [15] . Preoperative CT scans from previously reported cases of acute appendicitis secondary to prostate cancer metastasis predominantly show dilated appendix, periappendicular stranding and/or wall thickening [ 2 , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , 7 , [8] , [9] , [10] ]. Christou et al present a patient with an identical initial staging and Gleason score to the patient in the present report [2] .…”

“…Carcinomatosis in relation to the appendix is even more uncommon and not well described in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, only 11 cases of prostate cancer with a metastatic affinity for the appendiceal tissue have been reported worldwide, all located in the appendiceal lumen [ [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] ].…”

Acute Appendicitis Due to Metastasis of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma: A Case Report

“…Metastasis to the appendix usually originates in carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract, breast, lung or female genital tract. Only five cases of appendicular metastasis of prostate cancer are described in the literature [5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…In other case reports [5][6][7][8][9], the appendix did not show any visible suspicious lesions and therefore only an appendectomy was performed. In spite of this, our case report is the first to visualize the metastasis during the operation and perform an ileocecal resection on acute appendicitis to metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.…”