Carcinoid tumors of the appendix in children: two case reports and review of the literature.

Carcinoid is the most common tumor of the appendix. Reported incidence in pediatric population is 1 per 100,000 per annum. Clinical presentation like acute appendicitis is frequent, but carcinoid tumor can be an incidental finding during surgical procedures other than appendectomy. Size and depth of invasion are important prognostic criteria and tumors larger than 2 cm metastasize more frequently than smaller ones. Simple appendectomy is considered appropriate treatment, while right colectomy is indicated in tumor bigger than 2 cm. The authors report 2 cases of carcinoid tumors of the appendix in children, smaller than 2 cm treated with appendectomy alone, and disease free at follow-up.