Early appendicitis--a safe diagnosis?

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Serosal inflammation of the appendix with peritoneal exudate can mimic acute appendicitis.
• Intra-abdominal sepsis requires thorough investigation to identify the primary source.

Observation:

• Three cases of apparent "mild" appendicitis with serosal inflammation were retrospectively analyzed.
• All patients initially underwent appendicectomy, with two requiring subsequent Meckel's diverticulum excision.

Findings:

• Meckel's diverticulitis was the underlying cause of appendiceal serosal inflammation in all presented cases.
• Clinical presentation, physical examination, and operative findings of Meckel's diverticulitis can closely resemble acute appendicitis.

Implications:

• Clinicians must consider Meckel's diverticulitis in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen.
• Failure to identify Meckel's diverticulitis may lead to delayed or incorrect treatment for acute abdominal pain.