title: Asymptomatic early acute appendicitis initiated and diagnosed during colonoscopy: a case report.
abstract: Colonoscopic diagnosis of asymptomatic early acute appendicitis is exceedingly rare. Although obstruction of the lumen due to various causes is believed to be the most common physiologic mechanism of acute appendicitis, all of the previously documented cases in the literature have only shown a patent appendiceal lumen with pus flowing into the cecum. We present the case of a patient undergoing colonoscopy for colorectal cancer evaluation with no abdominal symptoms. An obstructed, swollen appendix was seen. The process was probably initiated during the colonoscopy, documenting perhaps the earliest stage of acute appendicitis for the first time. Endoscopic, CT and microscopic documentation of the case is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petro
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minocha
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged