The diagnostic dilemma: Giant Mucocele of the appendix—challenging conventional thinking

This article reports on a 76-year-old male patient diagnosed with a mucocele of the appendix. A mucocele of the appendix is a benign fluid-filled swelling caused by the accumulation of mucus in the appendix due to a blockage in its discharge route. The patient presented with symptoms of chronic constipation and rectal tenesmus and was diagnosed through physical examination, imaging studies and laboratory tests. The patient underwent an open ileocolectomy procedure to remove the affected appendix. The results of the histopathological analysis showed a confined low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. The overall survival rate after surgery for mucocele of the appendix is excellent, with a low recurrence rate.