Case: 168

Stump Appendicitis

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History: 36 yo male with RLQ pain and a h/o appendectomy as a child
Solution: Stump appendicitis is a rare clinical entity in which the patient develops appendicitis in the residual appendix after incomplete appendectomy. In this case, you can see the appendicolith within the residual appendix as well as the typical inflammatory stranding around the appendix and in this case, it has perforated and there is air around the appendix tip. Although not proven, it is possible that the increasing utilization of laparoscopic appendectomy will result in a higher rate of incomplete appendectomy and stump appendicitis. This should be considered in patients with a history of appendectomy and imaging findings consistent with appendicitis.

CT Images

Questions

The abnormality is centered on the:
  • Abdominal wall
  • Cecum
  • Ilium
  • Psoas muscle
This most likely represents an autoimmune process.
False
The most likely diagnosis is:
Stump appendicitis