Crohn's disease of the appendix presenting as acute appendicitis

A patient is reported who initially presented with findings simulating acute appendicitis and who was subsequently found to have Crohn's disease isolated to the appendix. Although the hazard of appendectomy in Crohn's disease is well known, it is interesting that none of the known patients with isolated appendiceal Crohn's disease has developed a fistula. Three of the 15 reported cases of Crohn's disease solely involving the appendix developed granulomatous changes involving other regions of the bowel as long as four years following the initial diagnosis. Because of the rarity of this condition, however, specific conclusions regarding the likehood of future recurrence cannot be drawn. We stress increased physician awareness of this entity in order to emphasize long-term follow-up for such patients.