Mucocele of the appendix presenting as an exacerbated chronic tubo-ovarian abscess

<h3>Rationale</h3><p dir="ltr">Appendiceal mucocele is a rare entity of mucinous cystic dilatation of the appendix. It has no typical clinical presentation and is considered a potentially premalignant condition.</p><h3>Patient concerns</h3><p dir="ltr">We present a case of accidental intraoperative finding of an appendiceal mucocele in a 54-year old woman that clinically presented with an exacerbated chronic tubo-ovarian abscess.</p><h3>Diagnoses</h3><p dir="ltr">Trans-vaginal ultrasonography showed an encapsulated, oval, unilocular mass above the uterus with a heteroechogenic structure, homogeneous fluid content, and smooth regular walls without inner proliferation. The histopathologic diagnosis was consistent with an appendiceal cystadenoma.</p><h3>Interventions</h3><p dir="ltr">The patient underwent a simple appendectomy.</p><h3>Outcomes</h3><p dir="ltr">There were no clinical, biochemical or imaging signs of the disease recurrence at 6 months follow up.</p><h3>Lessons</h3><p dir="ltr">To our knowledge, this is the only well-documented case of appendiceal mucocele mimicking exacerbated chronic tubo-ovarian abscess reported in the literature. Awareness of a rare entity such as an appendiceal mucocele, which is frequently misdiagnosed as a potential cause of acute abdomen, is necessary for the appropriate management strategy in order to prevent complications.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Medicine<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000017149" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000017149</a></p>