Goblet Cell Carcinoid Presenting as Appendicitis 1.5 Years After a Normal CT Scan

A 60-year-old man presented with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis and was found to have goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) of the appendix. The patient had no evidence of appendiceal disease on a computed tomography study one and a half year before. Due to the rarity of this tumor, previous case reports and series did not discuss the time course of the tumor's onset. This case report provides evidence that GCC can occur within a period of 1.5 years. This case report also discusses relevant histopathological aspects of GCC as pertain to cross-sectional imaging findings and illustrates the importance of considering other types of appendiceal disease in the diagnosis of a patient presenting with acute appendicitis.