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Foreign bodies of dental origin in the appendix
1Department of Surgery, Princess Alexandra's RAF Hospital, Wroughton, Swindon, Wilts.
Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Foreign bodies in the appendix are rare, especially dental items. A case of a gold inlay causing appendicitis highlights the need for surgical removal of appendix foreign bodies, particularly sharp ones.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Foreign bodies in the appendix are infrequently documented, with only 254 reported cases.
- Dental materials (teeth, restorations, equipment) represent a particularly rare category, with only 4 prior instances recorded.
Observation:
- A patient presented with a six-month history of intermittent right iliac fossa pain.
- Diagnostic imaging and subsequent surgery revealed a gold inlay restoration lodged in the distal appendix.
Findings:
- Ingested foreign bodies in the appendix manifest symptoms in 73% of patients.
- The likelihood of symptomatic presentation increases to 93% when the foreign body possesses sharp edges.
Implications:
- The presence of a foreign body in the appendix warrants consideration for appendectomy.
- Surgical intervention is particularly recommended for sharp foreign bodies to prevent complications.