Appendix cancer

Appendix cancer care at Mayo Clinic

Your Mayo Clinic care team

At Mayo Clinic, specialists in colon and rectal surgery, medical oncology, and gastroenterology and hepatology collaborate to create a comprehensive care plan that considers all of your needs. These experts work closely with other specialists, including pharmacists, nurses, educators and dietitians, to deliver high-quality care in a supportive environment.

Your doctors discuss all of your treatment options and guide you in choosing the approach that best suits your needs and goals. Your care team is prepared with the knowledge and resources to provide you with exactly the care you need.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment

The colon and rectal surgeons at Mayo Clinic draw on decades of cumulative experience in a high-volume practice that treats complex cancers of the digestive tract.

A full range of advanced treatments is available, including:

• Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Mayo Clinic is one of only a few centers in the United States to offer HIPEC for appendix cancer. HIPEC is typically combined with cytoreductive surgery (CRS), also called debulking surgery, which removes visible cancer from the lining of the abdomen. Mayo Clinic surgeons are refining robotic approaches to CRS, which may help shorten hospital stays and recovery time.
• Minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery, uses small abdominal incisions to access and remove the tumor. Mayo Clinic colorectal surgeons were among the earliest adopters of minimally invasive techniques for cancers of the digestive system.
• Robotic surgery. During robotic surgery, the surgeon works from a nearby console using hand controls to guide high-precision instruments. The enhanced view and precision are especially helpful in tight spaces. Mayo Clinic surgeons are highly skilled in robotic procedures, and outcomes have been excellent.

Specialists in appendiceal tumors

Mayo Clinic specialists bring extensive experience to diagnosing and treating the full spectrum of appendiceal tumors. Surgeons at Mayo have one of the largest long-term follow-up series of appendectomies for low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMNs), allowing them to identify which people benefit from surveillance and which do not.

Mayo Clinic experts also collaborate nationally and internationally to improve treatment for advanced disease. As part of the U.S. HIPEC Collaborative, Mayo specialists partnered with 12 academic centers and have published more than a dozen studies evaluating many aspects of appendiceal cancer and HIPEC.

Mayo Clinic surgeons regularly speak at national and international meetings on surgical approaches for appendiceal cancer. For people who are not candidates for surgery, Mayo Clinic medical oncologists provide treatments based on the latest research, including emerging targeted oral therapies and innovative combinations of antiangiogenesis and immunotherapy medicines.

Expertise and rankings

Mayo Clinic doctors are widely respected for their expertise and experience in caring for people with appendix cancer. When you seek care at Mayo Clinic, you can expect:

Nationally recognized expertise

Outside organizations recognize Mayo Clinic cancer specialists through accreditations, grants and rankings:

• Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center meets the strict standards for a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center and is the only such center with three unique locations. These standards recognize scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
• Mayo Clinic is among the highest-ranked cancer centers in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.
• Mayo Clinic ranks No. 1 in the nation for gastroenterology and GI surgery according to U.S. News & World Report.
• Mayo Clinic is accredited by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked as the top hospital in Minnesota and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, is ranked as the top hospital in Arizona.