Introduction: Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is a rare disorder. There is no consensus on the prognosis and management of LAMN.
Materials and methods: We reviewed 51 consecutive patients with LAMN from 2013 to 2018. We divided our patients into two groups. The first is patients with an intact appendix. The second group comprises patients with the potential to develop a malignant condition. Comparisons of serum tumor markers between two groups were performed. Survival curves were estimated. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards were computed for 46 patients with median follow-up of 2.7 years.
Results: Comparison of patients in two groups revealed significant differences in the mean level and abnormal ratio of CA125 (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), CA19-9 (p = 0.04, p = 0.04), and CEA (p = 0.001, p = 0.02). Eight patients had relapsed by the last follow-up in the second group. Patients with normal CEA had significantly longer disease-free survival (DFS) time than those with abnormal CEA (p = 0.04). CA19-9 exhibited a significant association with DFS (HR = 5.72, p = 0.02) in the Univariate Cox proportional hazards.
Discussion: The prognosis of LAMN is related to serum tumor markers, the surgical procedure and the pathology.
Keywords: Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN); clinical characteristics; images; prognosis; serum tumor marker; surgery.