[Acute left-side appendicitis: diagnostic contribution of tomodensitometry].
BACKGROUND
Some cases of left-sided appendicitis related to malrotation or situs inversus have been reported. Another type of left-sided appendicitis is reported.


METHODS
A 9 year-old boy was admitted suffering from a 2-day history of severe left-sided abdominal pain of the lower quadrant with fever at 38 degrees C. He presented abdominal tenderness and guarding, maximal in the left lower quadrant. His leukocyte count was 22,000/mm3. Ultrasonography showed a digestive tubular structure with thick walls in the left lower quadrant. CT scan revealed a dilated right-sided appendix with localized perforation, whose extremity was located in the left lower quadrant along the lateral wall. The diagnosis was confirmed by median laparotomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Left-sided appendicitis can also be related to a dilated right appendix with its extremity in the left lower-quadrant near the lateral wall. CT scan can then be helpful for diagnosis when ultrasonography remains unconclusive.
Nisolle
J F
JF
Service de radiologie, cliniques UCL de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgique.
Bodart
E
E
de Canière
L
L
Bahati
M
M
Michel
L
L
Trigaux
J P
JP
D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001065:Appendix / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012857:Situs Inversus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
Appendicite aiguë d'expression clinique gauche: apport diagnostique de la tomodensitométrie.