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Case Reports
. 2012 Oct-Dec;97(4):296-8.
doi: 10.9738/CC160.1.

Barium appendicitis 1 month after a barium meal

Masaaki Urade  1 , Toshihumi Shinbo
Affiliations
Case Reports

Barium appendicitis 1 month after a barium meal

Masaaki Urade et al. Int Surg. 2012 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Because barium sulfate (BaSO(4)) is not harmful to the mucosa, it is widely used for gastrointestinal imaging. Barium appendicitis is a very rare complication of barium meals and barium enema. We report a case of acute appendicitis associated with retained appendiceal barium. A 47-year-old man presented with right lower abdominal pain after upper gastrointestinal imaging was performed using barium 1 month earlier. The abdominal plain roentgenogram showed an area of retained barium in the right lower quadrant. Multiplanar reconstruction of computed tomography scans showed barium retention in the appendix. Emergency appendectomy was performed. A cross section of the specimen revealed the barium mass. Barium-associated appendicitis is a very rare clinical entity but we should be cautious of this uncommon disease when we encounter barium deposits in the appendix after barium examination. This report is significant because barium was identified both macroscopically and microscopically.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Radiopaque objects in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Plain abdominal roentgenogram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Barium retention near the cecum. CT scan.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Barium impaction in the appendix and dilatation of its lumen. Multiplanar reconstruction of computed tomography scans.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Barium lump detected in a cross section. Formalin-fixed specimen.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Barium crystals and inflammatory cell infiltration. H&E stain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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