Pseudomyxoma extraperitonei occurring 35 years after appendicectomy: a case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare condition consisting of mucinous ascites, most commonly arising from mucinous tumors of the appendix and occasionally from the ovary. Very rarely mucinous implants arise in the retroperitoneum without any intra-peritoneal involvement. This has been termed as pseudomyxoma extraperitonei. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 57 year old man who developed pseudomyxoma extraperitonei, 35 years after undergoing an appendicectomy for a perforated appendix. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudomyxoma extraperitonei has been previously reported, however we report the longest incubation period of 35 years for this condition.