| Theme |
Topics of the Gastrointestinal Diverticula |
| Title |
Diagnosis and Treatment of Diverticulum of the Appendix |
| Author |
Eiji Yamamura |
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School Musashikosugi Hospital |
| Author |
Koji Osumi |
Department of Surgery, National Tokyo Medical Center |
| [ Summary ] |
As compared with acute appendicitis, which is quite common, diverticulum of the appendix is a relatively rare disease. In many cases, diverticulum of the appendix is correctly diagnosed during surgery after an initial diagnosis of appendicitis. Preoperative diagnosis of diverticulum of the appendix is difficult, but advances in diagnostic imaging technology have made preoperative diagnosis of diverticulum of the appendix via computed tomography possible at least to some extent. The presence of a diverticulum suggests a risk of perforation even in cases of appendicitis with mild inflammation.
If findings are suggestive of diverticulum of the appendix, because of the high risk of perforation, surgical treatment should be considered even if the appendicitis is deemed mild. |