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Sonographic appearance of an appendiceal diverticulum
Osnat Konen1, Evgeny Edelstein, Alexandra Osadchi
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Kfar Saba 44281, Israel.
Insights
This study reports an incidental finding of an appendiceal diverticulum in a child diagnosed with acute appendicitis. This rare pseudodiverticulum was identified via sonography and confirmed during surgical resection.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Sonography is increasingly utilized for acute abdomen evaluation, enhancing the detection of appendiceal abnormalities.
- Appendiceal diverticula are uncommon congenital or acquired outpouchings of the appendiceal wall.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old child presenting with acute appendicitis underwent sonography.
- Sonographic examination revealed an enlarged appendix (1.1 cm diameter) with a small, fingerlike lateral projection near the tip.
Findings:
- Surgical resection of the appendix confirmed a 0.3 cm outpouching, consistent with a pseudodiverticulum.
- Microscopic examination showed the outpouching comprised mucosa and muscularis mucosa, characteristic of a pseudodiverticulum.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing appendiceal diverticula as an incidental sonographic finding in pediatric acute appendicitis.
- Accurate identification of appendiceal pseudodiverticula aids in surgical planning and understanding appendiceal pathology.
- Further research may elucidate the clinical significance and management of incidentally discovered appendiceal diverticula.
Abstract:
The increasing use of sonography for evaluating acute abdomen has brought greater recognition of appendicular abnormalities. We present an incidental finding of an appendiceal diverticulum during a sonographic examination of a 4-year-old child with acute appendicitis. Abdominal sonography showed an enlarged, swollen appendix with a diameter of 1.1 cm and a small, fingerlike lateral projection approximately 2.0 cm from its tip. The specimen, resected during an appendectomy, was 5.5 cm long and 1.0 cm in diameter and had a 0.3-cm outpouching. Microscopic examination revealed a pseudodiverticulum composed of mucosa and muscularis mucosa.