Ectopic decidua of the appendix: a case report.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Ectopic decidua, presence of decidual tissue outside the uterus, is a rare finding.
• Ectopic decidua of the appendix can present with symptoms similar to acute appendicitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of ectopic decidua of the appendix in a pregnant patient.
• To highlight the diagnostic challenges and differential diagnosis in pregnant women presenting with abdominal pain.

Main Methods:

• A case of a 39-year-old pregnant patient (27 weeks gestational age) with right lower quadrant pain was investigated.
• Emergency appendectomy was performed via laparotomy.
• Microscopic examination of the appendix confirmed ectopic decidua with myxoid degeneration.

Main Results:

• Histopathological analysis revealed decidual tissue in the subserosal layer of the appendix.
• Endometriosis was ruled out.
• The findings were consistent with ectopic decidua (deciduosis).

Conclusions:

• Distinguishing ectopic decidua of the appendix from acute appendicitis is challenging, even with imaging.
• Ectopic decidua of the appendix should be considered in the differential diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnant women.