Items tagged “appendix”

An appendicolith is a calcified deposit within the appendix. They are present in a large number of children with acute appendicitis and may be an incidental finding on an abdominal radiograph or CT. Incidence may be increased among patients with a retrocaecal appendix. Overall they are seen in 1...

A perforated appendix is one of the complications of acute appendicitis. If appendicitis is left untreated, ischaemic necrosis of a portion of appendiceal wall may occur, leading to perforation. An appendicolith is thought to be associated with a higher probability of perforation 1. Epidemiolog...

Neonatal appendicitis is rare, presumably in part due to the short funnel shape to the appendix at that age. Symptoms are non-specific and may mimic necrotising enterocolitis. 

The arrowhead sign refers to the focal caecal thickening centred on the appendiceal orifice, seen as a secondary sign in acute appendicitis. The contrast material in the caecal lumen assumes an arrowhead configuration, pointing at the appendix.   The arrowhead sign is applicable only when enter...

The caecal bar sign is a secondary sign in acute appendicitis. It refers to the appearance of inflammatory soft tissue at the base of the appendix, separating the appendix from the contrast-filled caecum. See also arrowhead sign

Appendiceal mucocoeles occur when there is an abnormal accumulation of mucin causing abnormal distention of the appendix. They are due to either a non-neoplastic process, such as luminal obstruction, or mucin-secreting epithelial tumours. Epidemiology The reported prevalence at appendectomy is...