The Prevalence of Appendiceal Tumours in Periappendicular Abscess

NCT ID: NCT04634448

Last Updated: 2020-11-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

400 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-12-01

Study Completion Date

2035-12-31

Brief Summary

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Complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis follow different epidemiological trends also suggesting different pathophysiology behind these two different forms of appendicitis. In 3-10% of patients complicated acute appendicitis is enclosed by formation of a circumscribed periappendicular abscess. The clinically established practice of antibiotic therapy and drainage, if necessary, has been shown safe and effective, allowing the acute inflammatory process to subside in more than 90% of cases without surgery. The need of subsequent interval appendectomy has been questioned with appendicitis recurrence risk varying between 5-26%.

During trial enrollment in our randomized Peri-APPAC trial based on the interim analysis results with 17% appendiceal tumor rate in the study population, the trial was prematurely terminated based on ethical concerns. All the follow-up group patients were re-evaluated and surgery was offered and recommended to all follow-up group patients. After this assessment and additional appendectomies, two more tumors were diagnosed resulting in neoplasm rate of 20% in the whole study group all diagnosed in patients over 40 years and the neoplasm rate in patients over 40 years was 29%.

Based on high appendiceal tumor rate in patients over 40 years, the appendiceal neoplasm rate needs to be further evaluated in prospective patient cohorts undergoing interval appendectomy as interval appendectomy is generally well tolerated and obliterates the risk of missing a possible tumor. In a recent systematic review of retrospective cohort studies with 13.244 acute appendicitis patients the overall appendiceal tumor rate was 1% after appendectomy, but in patients presenting with appendiceal inflammatory mass the neoplasm rate varied from 10% to 29%.

This nationwide prospective multicenter cohort study is designed to assess the prevalence of appendiceal tumors associated with a periappendicular abscess. All consecutive patients presenting with a periappendicular abscess are recommended to undergo interval appendectomy after initial conservative treatment with antibiotic therapy and drainage, if necessary. All patients older than 35 years will undergo laparoscopic interval appendectomy at 2 to 3 months and this is also recommended for the patients between 18 and 35 years of age. Asymptomatic patients under 35 years not willing to undergo interval appendectomy, will undergo a follow-up MRI at 1 year after the initial non-operative treatment.

Detailed Description

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Complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis follow different epidemiological trends also suggesting different pathophysiology behind these two different forms of appendicitis. In 3-10% of patients complicated acute appendicitis is enclosed by formation of a circumscribed periappendicular abscess. The clinically established practice of antibiotic therapy and drainage, if necessary, has been shown safe and effective, allowing the acute inflammatory process to subside in more than 90% of cases without surgery. The need of subsequent interval appendectomy has been questioned with appendicitis recurrence risk varying between 5-26%.

During trial enrollment in our randomized Peri-APPAC trial, the high incidence of appendiceal tumors in the study population alarmed the researchers. Based on the interim analysis results with 17% appendiceal tumor rate in the study population, the trial was prematurely terminated based on ethical concerns. All the follow-up group patients were re-evaluated and surgery was offered and recommended to all follow-up group patients. After this assessment and additional appendectomies, two more tumors were diagnosed resulting in neoplasm rate of 20% in the whole study group all diagnosed in patients over 40 years and the neoplasm rate in patients over 40 years was 29%.

Based on high appendiceal tumor rate in patients over 40 years, the appendiceal neoplasm rate needs to be further evaluated in prospective patient cohorts undergoing interval appendectomy as interval appendectomy is generally well tolerated and obliterates the risk of missing a possible tumor. In a recent systematic review of retrospective cohort studies with 13.244 acute appendicitis patients the overall appendiceal tumor rate was 1% after appendectomy, but in patients presenting with appendiceal inflammatory mass the neoplasm rate varied from 10% to 29%.

This nationwide prospective multicenter cohort study is designed to assess the prevalence of appendiceal tumors associated with a periappendicular abscess. All of the study hospitals will have a common clinical protocol of recommending interval appendectomy to all patients presenting with a periappendicular abscess after initial conservative treatment with antibiotic therapy and drainage, if necessary. Considering the high rate of appendiceal neoplasms, all patients older than 35 years will undergo laparoscopic interval appendectomy at 2 to 3 months after the successful initial non-operative treatment and this is also recommended for the patients between 18 and 35 years of age. Asymptomatic patients under 35 years not willing to undergo interval appendectomy, will undergo a follow-up MRI at 1 year after the initial non-operative treatment.

Conditions

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Appendix Abscess Appendicitis Appendix Mass Appendix Cancer Appendix Nec Appendix Tumor Appendix Diseases

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Prospective clinical cohort study
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Interval appendectomy

For all patients presenting with a periappendicular abscess, an interval appendectomy is planned at 2 to 3 months after initial conservative treatment, which is considered mandatory for all patients over 35 years of age. If a patient is under 35 and asymptomatic and does not want to undergo surgery, a follow-up MRI at 1 year will be performed.

Group Type OTHER

Interval appendectomy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

interval appendectomy at 2 to 3 months after the initial non-operative treatment

Follow-up MRI

For all patients presenting with a periappendicular abscess, an interval appendectomy is planned at 2 to 3 months after initial conservative treatment, which is considered mandatory for all patients over 35 years of age. If a patient is under 35 and asymptomatic and does not want to undergo surgery, a follow-up MRI at 1 year will be performed.

Group Type OTHER

Follow-up MRI at 1 year

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

follow-up MRI at 1 year for asymptomatic patients under 35 years of age not wanting to undergo surgery

Interventions

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Interval appendectomy

interval appendectomy at 2 to 3 months after the initial non-operative treatment

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Follow-up MRI at 1 year

follow-up MRI at 1 year for asymptomatic patients under 35 years of age not wanting to undergo surgery

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* periappendiceal abscess proven by CT, Mri or US

Exclusion Criteria

* patient declines to participate, complicated appendicitis without periappendiceal abscess
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Oulu University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Tampere University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kuopio University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Jyväskylä Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Mikkeli Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Lapland Central Hospital

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Seinajoki Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

North Karelia Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

South Carelia Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Päijänne Tavastia Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Satakunta Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Turku University Hospital

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Paulina Salminen

Professor of Surgery

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Paulina Salminen, prof, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Turku University Hospital

Central Contacts

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Paulina Salminen, prof, MD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +35823130000

Email: [email protected]

Jenny Alajääski, MD

Role: CONTACT

References

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Salminen R, Alajaaski J, Rautio T, Hurme S, Nordstrom P, Makarainen E, Lietzen E, Pinta T, Gronroos-Korhonen M, Rantanen T, Andersen J, Mattila A, Kossi J, Riikola A, Paajanen H, Matikainen M, Pokela V, Salminen P. Appendiceal Tumor Prevalence in Patients With Periappendicular Abscess. JAMA Surg. 2025 May 1;160(5):526-534. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2025.0312.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40172884 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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PeriAPPAC-T

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id