Management of Mucinous Ovarian Tumors

Surgical Management

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend that appendectomy must be performed in all patients with mucinous ovarian tumors because of the significant risk of synchronous appendiceal pathology 1, 2
Appendectomy should be performed in all mucinous tumors and considered in all patients with epithelial malignancies suspicious for appendiceal metastases, as stated by the NCCN guidelines 2
Grade 3 tumors warrant appendectomy due to reports of the appendix being the only site of extra-ovarian spread 1, 3
Routine appendectomy in early ovarian cancer remains controversial and is performed in less than 4% of cases 1, 3
When gross tumor involvement of the appendix is visible, appendectomy is mandatory regardless of histologic type 4

Failing to perform appendectomy in mucinous tumors is the most significant error, as 8% will have appendiceal involvement 1