Appendix Cancer Health Video

Video Transcript

SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Susan McGladerry. I'm the medical director from the FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'd like to give you some information about appendix cancer. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the large intestine where it meets the small intestine. Very commonly, the appendix can become inflamed, a condition known as appendicitis. This usually occurs when the appendix is blocked by feces or some foreign object. Rarely, in about 1% of cases, the surgically removed appendix is found to contain an appendix tumor. The majority of carcinoids are serotonin-secreting tumors, and in a small percentage, the tumor is an adenocarcinoma. How are they diagnosed? Well, as I've said most present as an acute appendicitis. In around 40% of cases, the diagnosis is made after the appendix is removed, but they may also present with a condition known as carcinoid syndrome. This is characterized by episodes of bright red facial flushing. There may also be diarrhea which is sometimes explosive and severe, and occasionally with wheezing, and sometimes they may just be an incidental finding during other abdominal surgery. How are these cancers treated? The small carcinoid tumors, less than 1 cm in size are fully removed when the appendix is taken out and no further treatment is usually necessary. If the tumor is more than 2 cm in size, in that case, the patient needs further surgery in the form of a right hemicolectomy, meaning the right half of the colon is removed. In the case of adenocarcinomas, these can be more difficult to treat. A more aggressive therapy is needed including right hemicolectomy and also chemotherapy. So what's the outlook if you have an appendix cancer? It depends on the type of tumor. In the case of carcinoid syndrome, removal of the appendix results in complete cure of the condition. However, in the case of the more aggressive adenocarcinomas, they may not be curable. When should you call your doctor? You need to see your health provider if you have any symptoms that can be due to carcinoid syndrome, and of course you need to call urgently if get lower right-sided abdominal pain that can be due to an acute appendicitis.