Appendicitis and beyond: a pictorial review of various appendiceal abnormalities

Emergency Radiology (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is the most common disease of the appendix. However, the differential diagnosis for an abnormal appendix includes other conditions that often present with symptoms and imaging features that overlap with acute appendicitis. In this pictorial essay, we review the normal anatomy of the appendix and outline the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and imaging findings that are characteristic of acute appendicitis and other less common appendiceal abnormalities. Inflammatory/non-neoplastic processes including appendiceal diverticulitis, stump appendicitis, foreign body appendicitis, Crohn’s appendicitis, and appendiceal hernias are discussed. Neoplastic considerations include appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors, mucinous and non-mucinous (colonic type) epithelial neoplasms, and lymphoma. It is important for the radiologist to be able to differentiate these alternative diagnoses for the purpose of directing appropriate patient management.

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Acknowledgments

Drawings courtesy of Jennifer Armstrong, Medical Illustrator, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Board at Memorial University.

Informed consent

Waived by the Health Research Ethics Board at Memorial University.

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No funding was received for this study.

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Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    Andrew K.C. Fenwick

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

    Angus Hartery

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  1. Andrew K.C. Fenwick
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  2. Angus Hartery
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Correspondence to Andrew K.C. Fenwick.

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Fenwick, A.K., Hartery, A. Appendicitis and beyond: a pictorial review of various appendiceal abnormalities. Emerg Radiol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-021-01908-3

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Keywords

  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Appendix
  • Appendicitis
  • Appendiceal neoplasm