Acute right iliac fossa pain: not always appendicitis or a caecal tumour: two case reports

A solitary diverticulum of the caecum is a rare benign condition which was first described by Potier in 1912 1. Clinical symptoms are usually a manifestation of complications arising from inflammation, perforation or haemorrhage. Despite radiological imaging, a pre-operative diagnosis is infrequent.

We report two cases of right iliac fossa pain associated with a solitary caecal diverticulum. We discuss the clinical presentation, investigative modalities, and current therapeutic guidelines associated with this rare condition and highlight the difference from the more common conditions of appendicitis in the young and caecal neoplasms in the older patient.

Complications of a solitary caecal diverticulum should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute right lower quadrant pain. Mild caecal diverticulitis verified pre-operatively by radiological imaging or laparoscopically can be ameliorated by antibiotics alone. However, severe inflammation, perforation, haemorrhage or torsion necessitates a localised or radical resection. The presence of multiple diverticula, caecal phlegmon, or the inability to rule out an underlying caecal neoplasm warrants a right hemicolectomy.