Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of colonic diverticulitis.

A patient over 40 years of age who complains of lower abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea or both, and increased flatulence should be suspected of having diverticulosis. When pain becomes more severe and persistent, diverticulitis must be considered. Diagnosis depends on roentgen demonstration of the presence of diverticula. Sigmoidoscopy and barium enema study are essential to exclude coexisting disease but in diverticulitis may need to be postponed until severe local and systemic signs of inflammation have subsided. A number of diseases can simulate diverticulitis, and differential diagnosis may present considerable difficulty. Irritable colon syndrome and acute appendicitis may be indistinguishable clinically from diverticulitis. Differentiation from carcinoma is usually not difficult, but exclusion of coexistent carcinoma may be impossible except by resection. Ulcerative colitis is also easily distinguished except when, rarely, it coexists. Crohn's disease of the colon is less easily differentiated, especially in patients over 40, in whom the two diseases often coexist. Other colonic diseases, such as ischemic colitis, and pelvic inflammatory diseases usually show characteristic features which make them readily distinguishable from diverticulitis.     

A Rare but Distinctive Cause of Acute Abdomen: Appendiceal Diverticulitis

Background

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis of appendix vermiformis is a rare diagnosis. Clinical and laboratory examinations do not show a difference between a progressing diverticulitis and simplex appendicitis. But this entity has a higher mortality rate than common appendicitis.

Objective

This case is presented to illustrate the point that preoperative simple diagnosis of acute appendicitis according to the clinical signs and physical examination may not only be insufficient, but could be fatal in certain circumstances, like appendiceal diverticulitis, if surgical intervention is delayed.

Case Report

Here we present a female patient with a history of right lower abdominal pain and fever of 3 days duration. She was diagnosed with acute appendicitis according to the preoperative physical, laboratory, and imaging examinations. The appendiceal diverticulitis accompanying acute appendicitis was an intraoperative finding, which was proven by histopathologic examination.

Conclusion

It is not easy to document this entity preoperatively. When diagnosed either preoperatively by imaging studies or intraoperatively, the only choice is appendectomy to prevent its serious complications.     

Right-sided Diverticulitis Mimics Appendicitis

Background

Right-sided diverticulitis is a rare source of right lower quadrant pain in Western society; however, it is quite common in Asian societies. Right-sided diverticulitis presents very similarly to appendicitis, with right lower quadrant pain, fever, nausea, and laboratory abnormalities, and is often seen in young patients.

Objectives

In this report, we present a case of right-sided diverticulitis. We review right-sided diverticulitis’ diagnosis and management. It is important to diagnose right-sided diverticulitis because it is a good mimic of appendicitis and ideally should be diagnosed before a patient has unnecessary surgery.

Case Report

A 26-year-old Asian woman presented for evaluation of right lower quadrant pain and fever. She was initially thought to have appendicitis clinically, but had right-sided diverticulitis diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) scan. She was admitted and received intravenous antibiotics and bowel rest. Her right-sided diverticulitis resolved in 3 days.

Conclusions

Severe right lower quadrant pain in young patients of Asian descent can be right-sided diverticulitis. Right-sided diverticulitis is a benign condition managed medically that mimics appendicitis. CT imaging seems to be the best way to avoid unnecessary surgery.     

CT of diverticulitis and alternative conditions.

The clinical diagnosis of diverticulitis is often uncertain and frequently incorrect. Diagnostic imaging such as with helical CT offers a rapid and accurate diagnosis of diverticulitis and its complications as well as alternative conditions. In particular, helical CT combined with contrast material administered through the colon is highly accurate and can be obtained quickly. CT signs of diverticulitis include focal inflammatory wall thickening and paracolic inflammation superimposed on diverticular disease (diverticula, muscular wall hypertrophy). Common alternative conditions that can clinically mimic diverticulitis include small bowel obstruction, primary epiploic appendagitis, acute cholecystitis, appendicitis, ileitis, ovarian cystic disease, and ureteral stone disease. Early and frequent use of diverticular CT promises to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with clinically suspected diverticulitis.     

Appendiceal diverticulitis

We report the case of a 56-year-old man with episodic right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Preoperative evaluation included computed tomography (CT) showing a right lower quadrant phlegmon consistent with cecal diverticulitis or appendicitis. The patient was treated with a short course of bowel rest and antibiotics. Four weeks later, he had an appendectomy. The patient was found to have chronic appendiceal diverticulitis and recovered uneventfully. Histopathologic studies revealed herniated mucosa through the muscular layer associated with chronic inflammation and marked fibrosis. These findings represent appendiceal diverticulitis. Diverticulosis of the appendix is believed to be uncommon and roentgenologic diagnosis of appendiceal diverticular disease is rarely made. We discuss the diagnosis and CT findings of appendiceal diverticulitis and present a thorough review of the literature.     

阑尾粘液性肿瘤超声误诊分析

目的 探讨阑尾粘液性肿瘤超声误诊的原因。方法 回顾性分析 2014 年 4 月-2018 年 4 月在我院就诊的经术后病理证实的 13 例阑尾粘液性肿瘤患者 的超声声像图表现。结果 13 例患者中,二维超声声像图特征分别为：4 例表现 为盆腹腔内巨大低回声肿块伴腹腔积液;1 例表现为右侧附件区无回声,张力差; 5 例表现为右侧附件区以囊性为主的混合回声;3 例表现为典型的右下腹阑尾区 肿大的具有盲端的低回声管状结构伴周围少许无回声区。超声诊断分别为：9 例 患者诊断为卵巢来源的恶性肿瘤;1 例患者诊断为输卵管来源的囊性肿物;3 例 患者诊断为急性阑尾炎并周围渗出。结论 阑尾粘液性肿瘤为临床罕见病。超声 声像图表现不典型。当病变体积较大时,超声难以准确定位,极难与右侧卵巢及 输卵管来源的肿瘤相鉴别。而对于病变体积相对较小的患者,虽然超声能够相对 准确的定位病变来源,但因超声声像图表现与阑尾的炎症性改变相重叠,极易误 诊为阑尾炎。故而,对于超声不能准确定位以及超声怀疑阑尾炎的患者,其他的 影像学诊断可以作为一种补充。     

Sonographic features of acute colonic diverticulitis: the "dome sign"

PURPOSE: This study was performed to clarify the sonographic features of acute colonic diverticulitis to enable its differentiation from appendicitis. METHODS: Of 119 patients who were referred to our hospitals for lower abdominal pain between June 1997 and December 1998 and underwent sonography, 12 patients had a definitive diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis and 4 patients a tentative diagnosis. Seventy-eight patients were diagnosed as having acute appendicitis, confirmed by appendectomy. In the 16 patients with diagnoses of diverticulitis, the sonographic and clinical features of acute colonic diverticulitis were studied. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients with definitive diagnoses of acute colonic diverticulitis, sonographic findings included localized thickening of the colonic wall (100%) and a hemispheric mass (the "dome sign") protruding at the thickened colonic wall (100%) and consisting of a hypoechoic wall (100%) and a central echogenic area (66%). The presence of diverticula was confirmed by barium-enema x-ray study in all 12 patients. The 4 patients with tentative diagnoses of acute colonic diverticulitis all had colonic wall thickening but no dome sign. Colonoscopy revealed colitis in 3 of these patients. All 16 patients recovered with conservative treatment, without laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Sonography was useful for differentiating acute colonic diverticulitis from appendicitis. The sonographic finding of the dome sign seems to be specific for acute colonic diverticulitis.     

Appendiceal diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis has long been known to affect the right colon, and in recent years, our understanding has evolved in regard to the underlying cause. Appendiceal diverticulitis has yet to gain widespread recognition despite the fact that it was first described in 1893. Commonly dismissed by surgeons and pathologists as a variant of true appendicitis, appendiceal diverticulitis is a discrete clinical process that must be considered in the appropriate setting. We describe a case of appendiceal diverticulitis in a previously healthy 59-year-old man and review the literature.     

Adult intussusception caused by an appendiceal mucocele and reduced by colonoscopy

Appendiceal intussusception is a very rare disease that is found in only 0.01% of patients who have undergone an appendectomy. Clinical symptoms vary but include acute appendicitis symptoms such as right lower quadrant abdominal pain or repetitive right lower quadrant crampy pain. Some patients are asymptomatic. Operative treatment is necessary to reduce an appendiceal intussusception in adults, but there is a debate about how to perform the reduction. Successful colonoscopic reductions have been recently reported for some cases. We report a case of appendiceal intussusception that was diagnosed, reduced by colonoscopy, and histologically confirmed as a mucinous cystadenoma after the operation.     

Right colonic diverticulitis: MR appearance

Background: We evaluated the magnetic resonance (MR) features of right colonic diverticulitis. Methods: This prospective study was based on five patients selected from a group of 156 patients admitted to the radiology department for further evaluation because of clinically suspected appendicitis. All five patients had ultrasound (US) and MR studies, and four patients also had computed tomography (CT). Results: In all five patients, right-side diverticulitis was seen as an outpouching of the right colon with associated circumferential wall thickening of the colon and surrounding inflammatory changes. Conclusions: Our results suggest that MR imaging can be useful in the diagnosis of right colonic diverticulitis. An inflamed diverticulum with adjacent colonic wall thickening and surrounding inflamed fat are characteristic MR signs. MR imaging can be a valuable alternative to CT in young or pregnant patients who have suspected appendicitis and an equivocal US result.     

Appendiceal enlargement as a criterion for clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis: is it reliable and valid?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate appendiceal enlargement as a radiographic criterion for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. We examined medical records and specimens of 190 adults and children who presented to a teaching hospital in New York City with right-lower-quadrant pain and who underwent surgery. Computed tomography (CT), clinical evaluation (based on Alvarado's predictive model) and pathologic data of these 190 cases revealed that appendiceal enlargement might in some cases represent a normal anatomic variant of a vermiform appendix and that the lack of a dilated lumen and thickened wall did not necessarily establish the absence of inflammation. Yet, radiologic evidence of appendix size often influences the diagnosis and management of patients with acute abdominal pain, including the decision to operate. This tendency to equate an enlarged appendix with appendicitis is shown to lead to an inappropriate diagnosis and jeopardize optimal care of patients with acute abdominal pain.     

Uterine abscess as an appendicitis complication: a case report

IntroductionAcute appendicitis is a frequent cause of abdominal pain that requires surgical intervention. Rarely complications such as appendico-vesical, appendico-cutaneous, or appendico-uterine fistula formation may occur.Case and outcomesWe present a case of an 83-year-old woman who suffered from a very rare complication of acute appendicitis. Multimodal radiologic examination including ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed complicated appendicitis with an abscess formation involving the right adnexal region and uterine cavity. The patient was treated conservatively with percutaneous drainage of the abscess and IV antibiotics.DiscussionAcute appendicitis is one of the common causes of emergency surgery. It is important to differentiate simple and complicated appendicitis to determine the best treatment option, thus, the diagnostic accuracy of certain US and CT findings in making this differentiation has been the subject of investigation. Even though some imaging findings suggest appendiceal perforation, deciding a conservative treatment plan based solely on imaging findings is still inaccurate. MRI is complementary to CT and US as a problem solving modality in certain situations.ConclusionThis case report reminds us that physicians and radiologists should be aware of rare complications of acute appendicitis such as fistula formation to visceral organs. MRI is superior in order to differentiate complex fluid collections such as abscess formations.     

Granulomatous appendicitis presenting as right lower quadrant pain: CT findings

Background: We present the computed tomographic (CT) findings of granulomatous appendicitis. Methods: Five of 652 (0.9%) patients who had undergone appendectomy for clinically suspected acute appendicitis over a 19-month period proved to have granulomatous appendicitis. One patient had surgery based on a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Four patients (three men and one woman; age range = 14–39 years) underwent abdominal CT. The CT findings were retrospectively reviewed with special attention to the appendiceal abnormalities. Results: All four patients presented with subacute clinical presentation. Enlarged appendices of 4.5 and 2 cm in diameter with thickened walls of soft tissue density were found in two patients, and periappendicular inflammatory masses were found in the other two. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes and right lower quadrant fat stranding was seen in all four patients. Histopathology showed numerous granulomas within the inflamed appendix. Conclusion: Radiologists should be familiar with the rare entity of granulomatous appendicitis in patients examined by CT for suspected acute appendicitis. An insidious clinical presentation with CT findings of an exceptionally large appendix and associated periappendiceal inflammatory changes should raise the possibility of granulomatous appendicitis or carcinoma or lymphoma of the appendix.     

CT abnormalities in right lower quadrant inflammatory disease: Review of findings in 26 adults

Abnormal abdominal computed tomographic (CT) examinations, performed on 26 adults who presented with clinical evidence of right lower quadrant inflammatory disease, were retrospectively studied. Final diagnoses, established surgically in each case, included complicated appendicitis (15 patients), diverticulitis of the ileum or right colon (4), previously undiagnosed Crohn's disease (3), perforated cecal neoplasm (2), right tuboovarian abscess (1), and paracolic abscess of unknown cause (1). The CT features in each diagnostic group are presented in detail. Solid or ring calcification within a pericecal inflammatory mass was specific for appendicitis, occurring in 40% of the 15 patients. Without calcification, the differentiation of complicated appendicitis from Crohn's disease or diverticulitis, based on CT features alone, may be difficult in some cases.     

Ultrasonographic findings in diseases of the appendix.

Ultrasonographic findings in patients with diseases of the appendix, including acute appendicitis, suspected appendiceal abscess, and palpable right-lower-quadrant abdominal mass, are described. An appendiceal abscess may manifest as a cystic mass, a mixed solid and cystic mass, or a hypoechoic solid mass. An appendiceal calculus within an abscess can be recognized as a hyperechoic structure with acoustic shadowing. On ultrasonography, acute appendicitis in female patients may mimic tubo-ovarian disease. Ultrasonographic features of isolated Crohn's disease of the appendix and mucocele of the appendix are also described.     

Acute diverticulitis in patients 40 years of age and younger

Acute colonic diverticulitis typically occurs in patients older than 60 years of age but is uncommon in patients under the age of 40, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis. Because abdominal pain is a very common presenting symptom in emergency department patients, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of 21 patients 40 years of age and younger diagnosed with acute diverticulitis and characterized the presenting signs and symptoms, laboratory and radiographic findings, treatment, and outcome. There were 17 men and 4 women with a mean age of 34.1 +/-5.9 years. All patients had abdominal pain, with 14 (67%) patients noting pain in the left lower quadrant (LLQ) and 5 (24%) patients noting right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain. Nausea was present in 18 (86%) patients and fever in 15 (71%) patients. The mean pulse rate was 103 +/- 16 and the mean temperature was 100.7 +/- 1.4 F. Leukocytosis was present in 19 (90%) patients. Plain abdominal radiographs were obtained in 19 (91%) patients and were normal in 15 (79%) of these cases. Computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained in 15 (71%) patients which revealed findings consistent with acute diverticulitis in 14 (93%) patients. The admitting diagnosis was diverticulitis in 10 of the 12 patients with LLQ tenderness and appendicitis in 4 of the 6 patients with RLQ tenderness. Overall, six patients were taken to surgery: three patients had cecal diverticulitis and three patients had perforated colonic diverticulitis. General treatment measures included bowel rest in 18 (86%) patients, and intravenous fluids and antibiotics in all patients. All patients survived. In conclusion, acute diverticulitis is uncommon in patients under 40 years of age; however, this condition may be confused with other conditions, usually acute appendicitis. As a result, clinicians should consider acute diverticulitis in young patients with acute abdominal pain, especially if they are male with nausea, fever, tachycardia, and leukocytosis, and consider obtaining a CT scan to aid in the diagnosis.     

多排螺旋CT诊断急性阑尾炎的价值分析

目的分析急性阑尾炎多排螺旋CT表现并探讨多排螺旋CT（MSCT）对急性阑尾炎诊断价值。方法回顾性分析15例经手术病理证实的急性阑尾炎及阑尾炎并发症的MSCT表现及分型,采用16排CT对全腹部进行多期扫描,利用多平面重组（MPR）、曲面重组（CPR）及最大密度投影（MIP）等后处理技术进行观察。结果急性化脓性阑尾炎3例,急性坏疽穿孔性阑尾炎及阑尾脓肿12例,发生并发症10例,并发症均发生于阑尾坏疽穿孔或阑尾溶解病例,其中盆腔脓肿4例,腹腔脓肿3例,盆腔、腹腔均见脓肿1例,粘连性肠梗阻4例,腹腔脓肿伴输尿管炎性狭窄1例,阑尾脓肿累及盆腹壁致腹壁瘘、合并肓肠癌1例。术前14例正确诊断急性化脓性阑尾炎或阑尾脓肿,CT诊断率达93．3％。但急性化脓性阑尾炎与急性坏疽性阑尾炎无穿孔时鉴别困难。结论急性阑尾炎MSCT表现具有一定特征性,对急性阑尾炎诊断具有重要价值。     

“Tethered Fat Sign”: The Sonographic Sign of Omental Infarction

Our purpose is to describe the ultrasound sign for a correct non-invasive diagnosis of omental infarction in children. From January 2014 to December 2018, a total of 234 children (109 boys and 125 girls, age range 3–15 y) with acute right-sided abdominal pain, admitted to our hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis, were prospectively evaluated. In all patients, abdominal ultrasound was performed, and the omental fat was always evaluated. In 228 patients, the omental fat resulted to be normal or hyperechogenic, never tethered, and they results affected by other causes of abdominal pain different from omental infarction (such as appendicitis, pancreatitis, urolithiasis and others). In the remaining 6 children, we found a hyperechoic mass between the anterior abdominal wall and the ascending or transverse colon in the right abdomen quadrant, suggesting the diagnosis of omental infarction. This subhepatic mass was always tethered to the abdominal wall, motionless during respiratory excursions. We named this finding the “tethered fat sign.” The diagnosis was confirmed with laparoscopy in 4 children. The other 2 children were treated with conservative therapy. In these 2 patients, a sonographic follow-up was performed, showing a progressive reduction in size of the right-sided hyperechoic mass. In conclusion, our study suggests that the presence of the “tethered fat sign” may be an accurate sonographic sign for non-invasive diagnosis of omental infarction in children.     

Appendiceal outer diameter as an indicator for differentiating appendiceal mucocele from appendicitis

BACKGROUND: Patients with appendiceal mucocele (AM) commonly present with features indicative of acute appendicitis. In emergency departments, accurate preoperative diagnosis is crucial to prompt appropriate treatment. This study investigates the clinical and sonographic characteristics of AM, which may prove useful in preoperatively differentiating AM from appendicitis. METHODS: This case-control study compares the clinical and sonographic findings of 16 histologically confirmed AM with sex- and age-matched control subjects (n = 64) with appendicitis by a 1:4 ratio. Conditional logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of clinical and sonographic parameters associated with AM. RESULTS: Univariate analysis demonstrated that the larger appendiceal outer diameter by sonography was positively correlated with diagnosis of AM (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.42-3.72) and right lower quadrant abdominal pain was negatively correlated (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.17-0.82). However, multiple regression analysis suggested that only outer diameter remained significant (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.36-3.59) after adjusting for age, sex, and right lower quadrant pain. An outer diameter of 15 mm or more was predictive of AM diagnosis, with a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 92%. CONCLUSION: When the threshold is set at 15 mm, appendiceal outer diameter by sonography is a useful preoperative measurement for differentiating between AM and acute appendicitis.     

小儿急性阑尾炎的超声诊断分析

目的　分析小儿急性阑尾炎的超声表现、阑尾病变程度与时间的相关性、探讨小儿急性阑尾炎的超声诊断价值。方法　回顾性分析4 4例急性阑尾炎患儿的超声图像,4 0例均行手术,经病理证实。4例抗炎对症治疗。结果　单纯性阑尾炎、急性化脓性阑尾炎、坏疽穿孔性阑尾炎及阑尾周围脓肿的显示率分别为5 7%、95 %、75 %、83%。阑尾炎的最大外径与腹痛时间呈正相关(r=0 .5 9,P<0 .0 1)。结论　超声检查为小儿急性阑尾炎的诊断、分型提供了客观依据,病变阑尾的最大外径反映了阑尾的病变程度。