Diverticula and diverticulitis of the appendix
[Jul 2017]

Diverticula and diverticulitis of the appendix

Gottschalk U1, Richter2, Will B3, Dietrich CF4

1Medical Department,
2Radiological Department,
3Pathological Department of the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Hospital Neubrandenburg.
4Medizinische Klinik 2, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim

Fig.1a

Fig.1b

Fig.2

Fig.3a

Fig.3b

1Case Report

A 34-year-old complained about a sudden onset of right-lower-quadrant pain. Preoperative ultrasound revealed the appendix with a hypoechoic and thickened wall and the so-called dome sign [Figure 1]. Abdominal tenderness and other clinical signs were suggestive of acute appendicitis. On clinical examination tachycardia (108/min), febrile temperature (38.60 C) and dehydration were documented. Blood test results showed leucocytosis (13,2/nl). Emergency laparoscopic appendecectomy was performed. A large inflammatory mass was found involving the appendix [Figure 2]. The histological specimen revealed the combined presentation of congenital and acquired diverticula. Histopathological examination confirmed phlegmonous inflammation of the appendix and periappendicitis caused by inflammation of diverticula [Figure 3].

2Discussion

Here we present the sonographic findings of a diverticulitis of the appendix including histology. The diverticulum could be clearly displayed in an otherwise thickened appendix with well preserved layers. Diverticula of the appendix can be true or congenital or false (due to acquired mechanisms) [Table 1 and 2] [(1)]. The wall of congenital diverticula contains all the normal histological components of the appendiceal wall. The walls of the acquired or false appendiceal diverticulum are only composed of mucosa, some loose areolar tissue and the serosa. This group either develops during the growth of the fetus or before inflammatory changes make there appearence in the appendix. The prevalence of congenital diverticula found in appendicectomy specimens range from 0,004 % to 0,6 % [(2)]. Diverticulitis of diverticula of the appendix is even rarer. Approximately 78% of cases were associated with varying signs and degrees of inflammation at time of their removal [(3)]. Perforation was observed in 66 % of cases with a high mortality (30-fold compared with acute appendicitis). Four subtypes of appendicular diverticulosis have been described in the literature [Table 2] [(1)]. The majority of diverticula of the appendix described in the literature were incidental findings observed during routine X ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract. While it is agreed that many people with appendiceal diverticula live healthy, normal lives, there can be no doubt that with the onset of complications, life is threatened by inflammation and complications.

3Table 1 Congenital and acquired types of appendicular diverticulosis.

Diverticula	Acquired	Congenital
Synonym	True diverticula	Pseudodiverticula
Frequency	3%	97 %
Prevalence (Incidence)	0,014 %	1,4 %
Age (median)	31	38
Solitary / multiple	Solitary	Multiple or solitary
Localisation	Antimesenteric border	Mesenteric or antimesenteric border

4Table 2 Subtypes of appendicular diverticulosis.

Type	Diverticulum	Appendix	Description
Type 1	Inflamed	Normal	Normal-appearing appendix with an acutely inflamed diverticulum
Type 2	Inflamed	Inflamed	Acutely inflamed diverticulum with surrounding appendicitis
Type 3	Normal	Inflamed	Conventional appendicitis with an incidental uninvolved diverticulum
Type 4	Normal	Normal	incidental appendiceal diverticulum with no appendicitis

5Conclusion

Diverticula of the vermiform appendix are rare and usually asymptomatic or associated with mild, chronic or intermittent abdominal pain [(4)]. The disease was first described in 1893 by Kelynac [(5)] cited by Phillips et Perry [(1)]. Graded compression sonography has gained widespread acceptance as a useful technique to evaluate patients with typical and atypical symptoms and signs of appendicitis [(6-11)]. Clinical findings are various from asymptomatic to chronic right lower abdominal pain. Life threatening complications like perforation, peritonitis, abscess, and pseudomyxoma peritonei have to be encountered [(12)]. The sonographic finding of the dome sign was specific for acute colonic diverticulitis [(13)] and could be demonstrated also in this case of diverticulitis of the appendix. In conclusion, appendiceal diverticula should be taken into consideration on imaging findings. We also refer to the published literature (search terms “appendiceal diverticulitis” and “ultrasound”) [(1, 4, 14-29)].

6References

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7Figures

Figure 1: Ultrasound of the appendix with hemispheric mass (dome sign, a, arrow) and hypoechoic thickened appendix wall (b). adenocarcinoma
Figure 2: Surgical Specimen. Diverticula present at the tip and middle third of the appendix along the mesenteric and antimesenteric borders, partly inflamed without perforation. Wall thickening of appendix was more prominent than that seen in typical appendicitis.
Figure 3:Histologic examination of the appendix: Transversal section of the appendix mid with a diverticulum devoid of a distinct Muscularis propria suggestive of an acquired diverticulum (a) and longitudinal section of the appendix tip with a diverticulum consisting parts of the Muscularis propria suggestive of a congenital diverticulum (b).

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