Cecum cancer underlying appendicular abscess. Case report and review of literature

Acute appendicitis represents a rare presentation of carcinoma of cecum. Neoplastic lesion of cecum may cause appendicitis by mechanical obstruction at the orifice of the vermiform appendix. The dilatation and perforation of appendix may produce a peri-appendicular abscess. A radical surgical approach of cecal masses, with intra-operative abscess drainage and resection should be performed in elderly patients, fit for surgery, to avoid the risk of unrecognising malignant lesion as well as to achieve a safe and adequate treatment. We describe a case of right iliac fossa abscess initially diagnosed with acute appendicitis that, at surgical exploration, resulted from a cecal tumour causing appendicitis for an obstructive mechanism.