# Adenocarcinoma of the appendix with metastasis to the spine

## TL;DR

A rare case of appendix cancer spreading to the spine is reported in a 30-year-old man, highlighting the need to consider this condition in similar cases.

## Contribution

This is the first reported case of appendix adenocarcinoma with spine metastasis from Africa.

## Key findings

- The patient's appendix and mesentery histology confirmed adenocarcinoma with lymph node metastasis.
- MRI confirmed metastasis to the spine, a rare occurrence for appendix cancer.
- The case emphasizes the importance of considering appendix cancer in spine metastasis of unknown origin with abdominal symptoms.

## Abstract

There are a few reported cases of bone metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the appendix and there is none from Africa. We report this rare case of a 30-year-old man who presented with low back pain following a trivial fall and who subsequently developed generalized peritonitis for which he underwent laparotomy. The histology of the appendix and the mesentery confirmed adenocarcinoma of the appendix with metastasis to the mesenteric lymph nodes while an MRI scan confirmed spine metastasis. Carcinoma of the appendix, should, therefore, be considered as a differential diagnosis in spine metastasis of unknown origin especially with coexisting abdominal symptoms.