Congenital Appendiceal Diverticulum: An Incidental Finding During an Appendectomy

Abstract

Diverticula are small outpouchings that form at weak points in the wall of the digestive tract. They are commonly found in the colon, and while they can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, occurrence in the appendix is rare. Here, we report the case of a young woman presenting with complaints of right lower quadrant abdominal pain. The patient's physical examination, laboratory values, and computed tomography (CT) result supported the presumptive diagnosis of uncomplicated appendicitis. The patient underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy, where an appendiceal diverticulum was appreciated. A postoperative pathology report supported the diagnosis of a true appendiceal diverticulum. The patient's symptoms improved postoperatively, and her recovery has been unremarkable. We conclude that appendiceal diverticula are often incidental findings that should be removed along with the appendix to reduce the risk of malignancy and perforation.

Keywords: appendiceal diverticulosis; appendicitis; congenital diverticula; diverticulosis.

Figure 1. Intraoperative image of the appendix with the diverticulum circled.

Figure 2. A gross image of the surgically removed appendix with the diverticulum circled.

Figure 3. A cross-section of the diverticulum showing involvement of all three layers of the bowel wall.

Figure 4. A magnified cross-section of the diverticulum showing involvement of all three layers of the bowel wall.