A case of diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the appendix: laparoscopic surgery can facilitate diagnosis and treatment

BACKGROUND: A cavenous hemangioma of the appendix (CHA) is rare. The clinical pathophysiology and adequate management of a CHA have not been sufficiently explained since reports on CHA are scarce. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old woman presented with chronic right lower quadrant pain. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a thickened appendix (1.5 cm in diameter) and some focal calcifications in the appendiceal wall. No acute inflammatory signs were visible around the appendix. For diagnosis and treatment, we performed a laparoscopic surgery. Intraoperative findings included purple granular lesions that were spread diffusely along the surface of the appendix. Since these lesions were spread to the terminal ileum, laparoscopic ileocecal resection was performed. Upon macroscopic inspection, purple-colored, raspberry-like lesions were found diffusely on the serosal surface of the appendix. No lesions were found on the mucosal surface. Hematoxylin and eosin staining indicated the presence of blood-filled sinus-like spaces largely in the subserosal layer. Immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that CD34-positive cells lined these spaces. Given these findings, we diagnosed the patient with a diffuse cavernous vascular malformation of the appendix. CONCLUSIONS: CHA is difficult to diagnose. A laparoscopic approach may be useful for both the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.