Incidental Appendiceal Carcinoids: Is Surgery Affecting Their Incidence?

Background: There is lack of consensus on the incidence of appendiceal carcinoids in recent times. The influence of number of appendicectomies performed has been postulated to play a role in this. To determine the incidence and clinico-pathological profile of appendiceal carcinoids in a cohort of patients undergoing emergency appendicectomies for clinically suspected acute appendicitis, and examine the influence of the trend (if any) of the number of appendicectomies performed on the overall incidence of appendiceal carcinoids.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with appendiceal carcinoids following presentation with acute appendicitis to the Modbury hospital, South Australia from March 2007 to April 2011. The patient cohort was divided into Group 1 (March 2007 - March 2009) and group 2 (April 2009 - April 2011) to study the influence of time trends on incidence of appendiceal carcinoids. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions, SPSS 14.0 for Windows.

Results: Of 506 patients who underwent emergency appendicectomy for acute appendicitis, 8 patients (1.6%) were found to have appendiceal carcinoids. The median age was 23 years with 7 patients being female. There was no difference in the incidence of appendiceal carcinoids over the two time periods (P < 0.12).

Conclusions: Appendiceal carcinoids were found in 1.6% of patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy for acute appendicitis. These tumors are found more commonly in young females with a predilection for the tip of the appendix. The perceived increased incidence appendiceal carcinoids appear to be unrelated to the increase in the number of appendicectomies being performed.