Indications for right hemicolectomy in carcinoid tumors of the appendix. The French Associations for Surgical Research.

The records of 181 patients with carcinoid tumor of the appendix, seen during a ten year period (1977 to 1987), were analyzed retrospectively to determine the indications for right colectomy and the signification of intermediate histopathologic forms. Appendectomy was the only treatment in 146 patients; while right hemicolectomy was performed upon 35 patients--in seven patients with one postoperative death initially and in 28 patients without any death or morbidity, secondarily. Colectomy was indicated initially in seven patients for bulky tumors of the base of the appendix invading the cecum or for associated carcinoma of the right colon. The 28 secondary colectomies were indicated for tumors that were statistically larger and more invasive than those treated by simple appendectomy or for intermediate forms, or both, in five instances. There were five instances of residual tumor on secondary hemicolectomy specimens. In 11 of the 181 carcinoid tumors (6 percent), the intermediate type tumor was associated with mucinous production--seven adenocarcinoids and four carcinoids with mucocele. Of the seven instances of adenocarcinoid, there was one death at two years and one patient is alive with metastases. Other than size greater than 2 centimeters and base localization, the results of the current study suggest that the presence of mucinous production cells is a further indication for secondary right hemicolectomy.