Diagnostic concordance in cases of appendiceal mucinous neoplasia referred to a tertiary referral centre.

Accurate diagnosis of appendiceal tumours and any associated peritoneal disease is clinically important but can be difficult. We retrieved the records of patients referred to the Peritoneal Malignancy Institute, Basingstoke, in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 with a diagnosis of mucinous appendiceal neoplasia and identified 323 patients in which slides were reviewed as part of the referral pathway. Comparing the local report from the referring centre with the central review report, in 57 (18%) we identified a discrepancy. In 39 (12%) the discrepancy was in overall diagnosis, including 22 (7%) in which the local diagnosis was low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm whereas the review diagnosis was reactive mucosal changes, usually due to ruptured diverticulum, with no evidence of neoplasia. Our findings support the practice of central review of histopathology slides by experienced pathologists at tertiary referral centres. They also suggest that improvements in diagnostic criteria are needed.

Unnecessary surgery can be avoided by judicious use of PET/CT scanning in colorectal cancer patients.

AIM: This study aims to determine the role of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in changing the management plan in patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer (CRC) and to evaluate the role of PET/CT in patients with an unexplained rise in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 consecutive patients with CRC, who had PET/CT, were identified between 2008 and 2010. All patients had CT scans prior to the PET/CT. Data were collected from clinic letters, CT and PET CT reports and pathology results and cross-checked with the patient's notes. RESULTS: Patients were aged between 43 and 85 years [33 males, 27 females]. CEA was raised in 37 patients and normal in 23. Results of PET/CT were compared with that of CT scan and 33 out of the 60 patients (55%) had PET/CT results which were different to that of CT scan and 27 patients (45%) had similar PET/CT and CT results. PET scan appropriately altered the management in 23/60 patients (38%) and avoided unnecessary surgery in 14 patients. PET/CT had a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 84%. In patients with an unexplained rise in CEA, PET/CT was positive in only one out of ten (10%) patients. CONCLUSION: PET/CT is valuable in deciding the management outcome in patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer. Unnecessary surgery might be avoided by careful use of PET/CT scanning in colorectal cancer patients. PET/CT might not be of value in patients with an unexplained rise in CEA.

Lower lip numbness in a patient with colorectal cancer.

Metastatic lesions to the mandible are rare, comprising less than 1% of all malignancies. A 75-year-old gentleman presented to ENT outpatient with a 3-week history of numbness over his lower lip on the right side followed by a rapidly growing swelling in his right mandibular region. The patient was diagnosed with an obstructing sigmoid tumour with metastasis to the liver and retroperitoneal adenopathy, 5 months ago. A colonic stent was inserted for the sigmoid tumour and patient was undergoing palliative chemotherapy. CT scan of the mandibular region showed mass lesion invading the ascending ramus of mandible and involving the right inferior alveolar nerve. Trucut biopsy confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma.

Rectal metastasis from breast cancer: an interval of 17 years.

Metastasis to gastrointestinal (GI) tract from breast cancer is rare. Commonly affected organ in GI tract is stomach, followed by colon and then rectum. The authors report a case of a 61-year-old woman who had a mastectomy for lobular carcinoma of the breast 17 years ago and was referred to colorectal clinic with increased frequency of stools. Colonoscopy showed a stricture in the rectum, but biopsy was inconclusive. As she was symptomatic, she had a Hartmann's resection 5 months after she initially presented to the clinic. Histopathology of the resected specimen showed it to be metastasis from lobular carcinoma of the breast. Awareness of potential long delays in the presentation of metastatic breast cancer especially lobular carcinoma helps in the earlier diagnosis and clinical management.