Aberrant Diagnostic Imaging Resulting in Misdiagnosed Acute Perforated Appendicitis: A Case Report.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-16-2024
Publication Title
Cureus
Abstract
A 31-year-old male with a history of diverticulitis presented for acute abdominal pain and was found to have several small areas of free air on computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen/pelvis. Due to inflammatory changes seen around the sigmoid colon and small bowel, he was diagnosed with perforated diverticulitis. The patient complained of significant right-sided abdominal pain with significant tenderness on abdominal examination. The patient was initially treated with diagnostic laparoscopy and was actually found to have acute perforated appendicitis with mild appendiceal adherence to the sigmoid colon. This case highlights the importance of careful history and physical examination in an era where imaging often precedes the surgeon's evaluation. The case also provides support for laparoscopy in select cases of pneumoperitoneum, sparing patients the morbidity of undergoing an open laparotomy.
Volume
16
Issue
2
First Page
e54304
Recommended Citation
Przeslawski C, Iorio L, Gerken J. Aberrant diagnostic imaging resulting in misdiagnosed acute perforated appendicitis: a case report. Cureus. 2024 Feb 16;16(2):e54304. doi: 10.7759/cureus.54304. PMID: 38496122.
DOI
10.7759/cureus.54304
ISSN
2168-8184
PubMed ID
38496122