title: An unusual case of appendicitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute appendicitis in elderly patients often presents late and atypically. Presentation as an incarcerated femoral hernia is rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the management of an elderly patient presenting with acute appendicitis in an incarcerated femoral hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The femoral canal was explored and the hernia repaired. Formal appendicectomy was performed via a midline laparotomy incision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unusual clinical presentations of acute appendicitis represent an interesting diagnostic challenge.
authors.affiliation: Professorial Surgical Unit, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neary
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Conlon
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans