Introduction:

the term «mucocele», a nonspecific and descriptive name referring to an abnormal mucous accumulation within the lumen of the appendix, regardless of the underlying cause, is a rare clinical condition that is infrequently considered in the differential diagnosis of the lesions located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen.

Objective:

to present a patient with a preoperative diagnosis of complicated acute appendicitis who underwent emergency surgery and was finally diagnosed with an appendicular mucocele.

Clinical case:

52-year-old male patient who was admitted to the Emergency and Intensive Care Unit for presenting pain in the right lumbar region that radiated to the right iliac fossa. He was accompanied by nausea, profuse vomiting, fever of 38.5-390 C, thirst, oliguria, asthenia, and anorexia.

Discussion:

on physical examination, she presented pale and slightly dry mucous membranes, weak and tachycardic pulse, arterial hypotension, slightly distended abdomen, painful on deep palpation in the right iliac fossa. Imaging studies suggested an appendicular collection. With the clinical suspicion of complicated acute appendicitis and the diagnostic doubt, it was decided to perform emergency exploratory laparotomy. During the intraoperative period, anappendicular mucocele was identified. Histology confirmed an appendicular mucocele with no evidence of neoplastic origin. The patient evolved satisfactorily and was discharged on the fourth postoperative day.

Conclusions:

the appendicular mucoceleis a clinical-surgical condition that, despite being known, its incidence is very low; being the preoperative diagnosis difficult due to the variety in its clinical presentation.

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