Mucinous cystadenoma of the caecum: a rare cause of recurrent intussusception in a 3-year-old boy (case report)

Abstract

Mucinous cystadenoma of the caecum is an exceptionally rare occurrence, particularly in paediatric patients. They have been rarely reported in the appendix, ovary, pancreas, and liver. This is the first report of a mucinous cystadenoma of the caecum (to the best of the authors’ knowledge) in a child. A mucinous cystadenoma of the caecum can serve as a pathological lead point in intussusception. We report a case of a 3-year-old boy with a mucinous cystadenoma of the caecum causing intussusception. The intussusception recurred after an initial successful hydrostatic reduction. He had a laparotomy which revealed a caecal mass for which a limited right hemicolectomy was done. The histological diagnosis of the caecal mass was a mucinous cystadenoma. In intussusception caused by a lead point like a mucinous cystadenoma, an enema reduction may be successful but the intussusception may recur. Physical examination may reveal pathological lead points not detected on ultrasound scans. This case report contributes to the limited literature on mucinous cystadenomas of the caecum and calls for the need for further research to better understand their aetiology, clinical manifestation, histopathological diagnosis, and management strategies.