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Retained lead shot in the appendix.
Journal of the Canadian Association of Radiologists
|March 1, 1985
Summary
Retained lead shot in the appendix do not cause appendicitis. A study followed 62 patients for up to 13 years, finding no link between lead shot presence and appendicitis development.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Retained lead shot in the appendix are occasionally discovered incidentally via radiographic studies.
- The clinical significance and potential complications, such as appendicitis, remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal relationship between retained appendiceal lead shot and the development of appendicitis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective follow-up study of 62 patients with incidentally found lead shot in the appendix.
- Observation periods ranged from two months to 13 years.
- Clinical data, barium studies, and appendectomy tissue examinations were reviewed.
Main Results:
- No patient developed clinical appendicitis or lead poisoning during the follow-up period.
- Barium studies in 20 patients showed no evidence of appendiceal obstruction.
- Histopathological examination of 8 appendectomy specimens revealed no signs of appendicitis.
Conclusions:
- There is no evidence to support a causal relationship between the presence, number, or duration of retained lead shot in the appendix and the incidence of appendicitis.