[Right-sided diverticulitis mimicking acute appendicitis]

Abstract

The probability diagnosis in two patients, women aged 43 and 41 years, who for the last few days had had pain in the right lower abdomen, without nausea or vomiting, was acute appendicitis; a third patient, a woman aged 49 with the same symptoms, had undergone appendectomy in the past. Peroperative findings and, in two patients, microscopy of the resected specimen showed diverticulitis in the caecum or ascending colon. This is an uncommon disease, which mimicks acute appendicitis. Treatment depends on the severity of the inflammation. In the absence of perforation or abscess, conservative treatment suffices. Otherwise, resection of the colon is necessary.