Ingested foreign body mimicking an appendicolith in a child

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Radiology

Background:

• Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in children.
• Foreign body ingestion can lead to gastrointestinal complications.
• Radiographic findings can mimic appendicitis.

Observation:

• A pediatric patient presented with symptoms mimicking appendicitis.
• Radiographs showed calcific opacities in the right iliac fossa.
• These opacities resembled appendicoliths, commonly associated with appendicitis.

Findings:

• Surgical exploration revealed a sealed perforation of the terminal ileum.
• Histopathology confirmed the presence of hard concretions within the ileal wall.
• The concretions were attributed to ingested sand and stones.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare cause of appendicitis-like presentation in children.
• Ingested foreign bodies, like sand and stones, can lead to serious intestinal injury.
• Accurate diagnosis requires integrating clinical presentation, imaging, and surgical findings.