Neoplastic appendiceal mucinous lesions: a narrative review of the literature from an oncologist’s perspective

Abstract

Appendiceal mucinous lesions’ classification and nomenclature has been modified several times along the last decades, reflecting their great heterogeneity and making difficult to compare results and draw conclusions. Despite its nearby origin, appendiceal mucinous lesions have a distinctive behaviour compared to colorectal cancer, including their molecular and genetic markers. Due to their low frequency, their management is not well standardised. However, surgery is considered the cornerstone of treatment. Their indolent behaviour has encouraged surgeons to apply more aggressive treatments, such as cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), that may extend overall survival. Chemotherapy is reserved for unresectable and/or disseminated disease and could play a role in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting. Pressurised intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is recently emerging as a possible alternative for treatment in advanced disease although its results in long-term survival are lacking Hereby, we review the available evidence in the management of appendiceal mucinous lesions, including localised and disseminated disease, with a special emphasis on the oncological perspective, focusing on the lights and shadows of the systemic treatments.