Appendix cancer occurs when the healthy cells in the appendix become abnormal and start growing rapidly, turning into cancerous cells. These cancerous cells become a tumor or mass inside the appendix, which may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) in nature.
The appendix is a tube that appears like a thin pouch. It is attached to the large intestine and sits in the lower right part of the stomach.
Types:
The different types of appendix tumors are:
1. Neuroendocrine tumor or carcinoid tumor: This is the most common type of malignant appendix tumor that starts in the tip of the appendix.
2. Mucinous cystadenoma or low-grade mucinous neoplasm: This is a benign type of tumor that starts in the mucoceles, which are mucus-filled sacs present in the appendix wall.
3. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: This type of malignant tumor begins in the mucoceles.
4. Colonic-type adenocarcinoma: This is a malignant type of appendix tumor that begins at the base of the appendix.
5. Goblet cell carcinoma or adenoneuroendocrine tumor: This type of tumor has characteristics similar to adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor, but is more aggressive than a neuroendocrine tumor.
6. Signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma: It is a rare type of malignant tumor, which is difficult to remove.
7. Paraganglioma: This type of tumor is usually benign in nature, and very rarely malignant.
Causes:
The exact cause of appendix cancer is not known. Appendix cancer occurs when the healthy cells in the appendix turn abnormal and start growing and multiplying at an abnormal rate. These abnormal cells become cancerous. This leads to the formation of a mass or tumor inside the appendix. The tumor formed may be benign or non-cancerous in nature that does not spread to the other parts of the body, or it may be malignant or cancerous and may spread to the other parts of the body.
Risk factors:
Certain factors can increase the risk of having appendix cancer. These factors include:
The symptoms of appendix cancer may not be apparent in the initial stages. The symptoms, if present, may include the following:
Appendix cancer is usually difficult to diagnose at an early stage since it shows little or no symptoms early on. It is usually accidentally diagnosed during an imaging test, or after an individual has appendicitis (surgical removal of the appendix following an inflammation) surgery, or when the tumor has spread to the other organs leading to symptoms. Diagnosis of appendix cancer can be done by:
1. Physical examination: The doctor will physically examine the patient and note down the symptoms of the patient. The medical history and family history of the patient are also noted.
2. Imaging tests: Tests like CT scans, MRI scans, and ultrasound help in checking for the presence of any tumor in and around the appendix.
3. Colonoscopy: A thin, long tube known as a colonoscope, with a camera and light on one end is inserted into the rectum (last several inches of the large intestine) up into the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) to check for the presence of any tumor or mass.
4. Biopsy: This procedure involves the excision or removal of a small sample of the suspected tissue growth and sending it to the laboratory to check for the presence of any cancer cells.
The treatment of appendix cancer depends on the stage and type of tumor, and the patient’s overall health. The different types of treatments for appendix cancer include:
1. Surgery: Surgery is the most common form of treatment for appendix cancer which is localized. The different forms of surgeries include:
a) Appendectomy: In the case of cancer that is localized to the appendix only, the treatment includes removal of the appendix. This procedure is known as appendectomy.
b) Hemicolectomy: If the appendix tumor is larger in size, the treatment may include removal of one-half of the colon and the affected lymph nodes. The surgery done for the removal of half of the colon is called hemicolectomy.
c) Cytoreductive surgery or debulking: In the case of an appendix tumor that has spread to the surrounding tissues and organs, the surgeon removes the tumor, surrounding fluid, and nearby organs attached to the tumor. This is known as cytoreductive surgery.
2) Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the use of a group of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy may be done before or after the surgery in cases of appendix tumors that are larger than 2 centimeters, tumors that are more aggressive in nature, or cancer that has spread to the other parts of the body.
The different types of chemotherapy may include:
a) Systemic chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs are given in the form of pills orally or injected into the veins (intravenously) in systemic chemotherapy.
b) Regional chemotherapy: In the case of regional chemotherapy, drugs are given directly into the abdomen, like intraperitoneal chemotherapy (the chemotherapy drugs are directly put into the abdominal cavity) or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (the chemotherapy drugs are heated and put into the abdominal cavity).
c) Combination of systemic and regional chemotherapy.
The risks involved with the various appendix cancer treatments include:
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M.B.B.S., M.S. (General Surgery), D.N.B. (General Surgery), MNAMS - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MBBS | MS | FICS - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MBBS, MCh - Surgical Oncology, MS - General Surgery - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
M.B.B.S, M. S.(Surgery), Senior Resident(cancer Surgery), Fellowship(Surgical Oncology) - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MBBS | MS(General Surgery) - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MBBS, MCh - Surgical Oncology, MS - General Surgery - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MBBS | MS | FICS - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MBBS, MS – General Surgery - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MS, FACS, FICS, FIMSA, FAMS, FRCS (England) - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
MBBS, MS – General Surgery - Surgical Oncologist/Cancer Surgeon
Appendix cancer occurs when the healthy cells in the appendix become abnormal and start growing rapidly, turning into cancerous cells. These cancerous cells become a tumor or mass inside the appendix, which may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) in nature.
The appendix is a tube that appears like a thin pouch. It is attached to the large intestine and sits in the lower right part of the stomach.
Types:
The different types of appendix tumors are:
1. Neuroendocrine tumor or carcinoid tumor: This is the most common type of malignant appendix tumor that starts in the tip of the appendix.
2. Mucinous cystadenoma or low-grade mucinous neoplasm: This is a benign type of tumor that starts in the mucoceles, which are mucus-filled sacs present in the appendix wall.
3. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: This type of malignant tumor begins in the mucoceles.
4. Colonic-type adenocarcinoma: This is a malignant type of appendix tumor that begins at the base of the appendix.
5. Goblet cell carcinoma or adenoneuroendocrine tumor: This type of tumor has characteristics similar to adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor, but is more aggressive than a neuroendocrine tumor.
6. Signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma: It is a rare type of malignant tumor, which is difficult to remove.
7. Paraganglioma: This type of tumor is usually benign in nature, and very rarely malignant.
Causes:
The exact cause of appendix cancer is not known. Appendix cancer occurs when the healthy cells in the appendix turn abnormal and start growing and multiplying at an abnormal rate. These abnormal cells become cancerous. This leads to the formation of a mass or tumor inside the appendix. The tumor formed may be benign or non-cancerous in nature that does not spread to the other parts of the body, or it may be malignant or cancerous and may spread to the other parts of the body.
Risk factors:
Certain factors can increase the risk of having appendix cancer. These factors include:
The symptoms of appendix cancer may not be apparent in the initial stages. The symptoms, if present, may include the following:
Appendix cancer is usually difficult to diagnose at an early stage since it shows little or no symptoms early on. It is usually accidentally diagnosed during an imaging test, or after an individual has appendicitis (surgical removal of the appendix following an inflammation) surgery, or when the tumor has spread to the other organs leading to symptoms. Diagnosis of appendix cancer can be done by:
1. Physical examination: The doctor will physically examine the patient and note down the symptoms of the patient. The medical history and family history of the patient are also noted.
2. Imaging tests: Tests like CT scans, MRI scans, and ultrasound help in checking for the presence of any tumor in and around the appendix.
3. Colonoscopy: A thin, long tube known as a colonoscope, with a camera and light on one end is inserted into the rectum (last several inches of the large intestine) up into the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) to check for the presence of any tumor or mass.
4. Biopsy: This procedure involves the excision or removal of a small sample of the suspected tissue growth and sending it to the laboratory to check for the presence of any cancer cells.
The treatment of appendix cancer depends on the stage and type of tumor, and the patient’s overall health. The different types of treatments for appendix cancer include:
1. Surgery: Surgery is the most common form of treatment for appendix cancer which is localized. The different forms of surgeries include:
a) Appendectomy: In the case of cancer that is localized to the appendix only, the treatment includes removal of the appendix. This procedure is known as appendectomy.
b) Hemicolectomy: If the appendix tumor is larger in size, the treatment may include removal of one-half of the colon and the affected lymph nodes. The surgery done for the removal of half of the colon is called hemicolectomy.
c) Cytoreductive surgery or debulking: In the case of an appendix tumor that has spread to the surrounding tissues and organs, the surgeon removes the tumor, surrounding fluid, and nearby organs attached to the tumor. This is known as cytoreductive surgery.
2) Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the use of a group of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy may be done before or after the surgery in cases of appendix tumors that are larger than 2 centimeters, tumors that are more aggressive in nature, or cancer that has spread to the other parts of the body.
The different types of chemotherapy may include:
a) Systemic chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs are given in the form of pills orally or injected into the veins (intravenously) in systemic chemotherapy.
b) Regional chemotherapy: In the case of regional chemotherapy, drugs are given directly into the abdomen, like intraperitoneal chemotherapy (the chemotherapy drugs are directly put into the abdominal cavity) or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (the chemotherapy drugs are heated and put into the abdominal cavity).
c) Combination of systemic and regional chemotherapy.
The risks involved with the various appendix cancer treatments include:
Appendix cancer is a rare type of cancer in which the healthy cells in the appendix become abnormal and start growing rapidly. These cancerous cells become a tumor or mass inside the appendix.
The appendix is a tube that appears like a pouch or small sack. The appendix is connected to the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) at the beginning of the large intestine.
There is no known function of the appendix. It is believed to play a role in the immune (disease-fighting) system of the body. However, people can live a healthy and normal life without an appendix.
The different types of appendix cancer include:
1. Neuroendocrine tumor or carcinoid tumor: It usually starts at the tip of the appendix and is the cause for more than half of the appendiceal malignancies (cancers).
2. Mucinous cystadenoma or low-grade mucinous neoplasm: It is a benign tumor starting in the mucoceles, which are sacs filled with mucus in the appendix wall. It is usually a benign (non-cancerous) type of appendix tumor.
3. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: This type of appendix tumor starts in the mucoceles and is of the malignant (cancerous) type.
4. Colonic-type adenocarcinoma: This type of appendix tumor starts at the appendix base.
5. Goblet cell carcinoma or adenoneuroendocrine tumor: This type of tumor is more aggressive than a neuroendocrine tumor and may spread to the other organs. It has characteristics similar to a neuroendocrine tumor and an adenocarcinoma.
6. Paraganglioma: This is a rare type of benign appendix tumor.
7. Signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma: This is a rare, malignant type of tumor that is difficult to treat.
The exact cause of appendix cancer is not known. The appendix tumors are formed when the cells undergo abnormal changes and multiply at a quick rate. The excess cells can build up and lead to the formation of a tumor. This tumor can spread to the different organs and tissues of the body. The cause of abnormal cellular development is unknown.
Certain factors increase the chances of developing appendix cancer. These factors include:
The symptoms of appendix cancer may not be seen initially. The symptoms may become noticeable during an imaging test, surgery, or any other medical procedure. The symptoms may include:
Appendix cancer usually shows no symptoms initially. It is usually diagnosed by the doctor when the tumor has spread to the other organs leading to various symptoms, or accidentally during an imaging test, or after an appendicitis surgery (removal of the appendix due to inflammation). The following diagnostic tests may be performed:
1. Physical examination: The doctor will examine you physically, and check the symptoms. The doctor will also note down any medical history or family history of MEN1.
2. Imaging tests: Imaging tests like CT scan, MRI scan, Ultrasound helps in obtaining clear images of the internal organs of the body. This helps in checking if there is any tumor visible in and around the appendix.
3. Colonoscopy: A colonoscope is a long tube with a camera on one end. It is inserted in the rectum and moved up to the colon to check for the presence of any tumors.
4. Biopsy: In this procedure, a small sample of the tissue growth is excised (removed) by the doctor and sent to the laboratory to check for the presence of any abnormal or cancerous cells.
The treatment of appendix cancer depends on the type of tumor present, if cancer has spread to the other parts of the body, and if the person has any pre-existing medical conditions.
The various forms of treatment for appendix cancer include:
1. Surgery:
a) Appendectomy: If the cancer is localized to the appendix only, removal of the appendix is the best form of treatment. This is known as appendectomy.
b) Hemicolectomy: In some cases of appendix cancer, or when the tumor is larger in size, the doctor may recommend the removal of one-half of the colon and some lymph nodes. The surgical procedure done to remove half of the colon is known as hemicolectomy.
c) Cytoreductive surgery/debulking: If cancer has spread to the other parts of the body, the surgeon removes the tumor, the surrounding fluid, and sometimes the nearby organs attached to the tumor.
2. Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is a form of treatment in which certain drugs or groups of drugs may be used to treat cancer.
In the case of appendix cancer, chemotherapy may be required before or after the surgery.
Chemotherapy is usually performed if the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters, cancer has spread to the surrounding areas and lymph nodes, or the cancer is very aggressive.
The different types of chemotherapy include:
a) Systemic chemotherapy, which may be given in the form of pills to be taken orally, or injected into the vein (intravenously).
b) Regional chemotherapy, which is given directly into the abdomen, like intraperitoneal chemotherapy (chemotherapy drugs are put inside the abdomen directly) or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (filling the abdominal cavity with chemotherapy drugs that have been heated).
c) A combination of regional and systemic chemotherapy
The doctor will follow up on your treatment with periodic imaging tests like CT scans or MRI scans to check if the tumor has been completely eliminated.
The side effects associated with appendix cancer treatment may include:
The complications associated with appendix cancer may include:
Contact your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms.
Although appendix cancer cannot be prevented as such, a few lifestyle changes may lower your risk of developing appendix cancer:
The 5-year survival rates for appendix cancer after the removal of the appendix according to a 2011 review are as follows:
The survival rate improves in cases of appendix cancers where a part of the colon is also removed and chemotherapy has been performed.
The prognosis and outlook for most people having early-stage appendix cancer are generally good.
Most of the time, appendix cancer remains undetected until an imaging test or appendix surgery is being performed for some other medical reason.
It is important to have regular follow-up appointments with your doctor after the diagnosis of appendix cancer to check if there is any recurrence of cancer.
The cost of appendix cancer treatment in India varies across different cities and hospitals.
| CITY | COST |
| Cost of Appendix Cancer Treatment in Mumbai | INR 200000- INR 400000 |
| Cost of Appendix Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | INR 180000- INR 380000 |
| Cost of Appendix Cancer Treatment in Delhi | INR 180000- INR 380000 |
| Cost of Appendix Cancer Treatment in Chennai | INR 170000- INR 370000 |