Clinical characteristics of 12 cases of appendiceal diverticulitis: a comparison with 378 cases of acute appendicitis

Abstract

Purpose: Previous authors have suggested that a diverticulum of the vermiform appendix has a higher risk of perforation than acute appendicitis. Therefore, this study compared appendiceal diverticulitis with acute appendicitis to explain the characteristics of appendiceal diverticulitis.

Methods: Data for this study came from a retrospective analysis at the Department of Surgery at Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital from January 2005 to June 2008. Twelve cases of appendiceal diverticulitis and 378 cases of acute appendicitis were analyzed.

Results: The patients with appendiceal diverticulitis were older than those with acute appendicitis (42.7 ± 15.4 vs. 29.1 ± 17.7; p = 0.009). The white blood cell (WBC) level was lower (11332 ± 4658 vs. 14236 ± 3861; p = 0.011) and the CRP level was higher (8.65 ± 8.94 vs. 4.34 ± 6.34, p = 0.022) in those with appendiceal diverticulitis than in those with acute appendicitis. A preoperative diagnosis for appendiceal diverticulitis was made in 4 out of 12 (33.3%) by ultrasonography (US). The perforation rate was higher in appendiceal diverticulitis than that in acute appendicitis (33.3 vs. 9.8%; p = 0.009).

Conclusions: Appendiceal diverticulitis is more likely to perforate over the progression of the clinical course, which would mandate appendectomy when appendiceal diverticulitis is detected by US, even if the patient has no severe abdominal pain.