title: An emergency diagnostic dilemma: a case of Yersinia enterocolitica colitis mimicking acute appendicitis in a beta-thalassemia major patient: the role of CT and literature review.
abstract: The role of computed tomography (CT) scanning in a case of Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) enteritis mimicking acute appendicitis in a 34-year-old female patient with beta-thalassemia major is presented. Although the abdominal CT findings on admittance were indicative of acute appendicitis (enlargement of the appendix and thickening of its wall), making appendectomy a likely treatment option, a second CT scan 3 days later was diagnostic for infectious colitis (bowel wall thickening, ulcerations of the colonic mucosa, and fat stranding), and an unnecessary appendectomy was thus avoided. The diagnosis of YE colitis was later confirmed by serology tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computed Tomography, 1st IKA, Sismanoglio General Hospital, Sismanogliou 1 Maroussi, 15126, Athens, Greece. axonikos@sismanoglio.gr
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antonopoulos
authors.forename: Fotois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Constantinidis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Charalampopoulos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dalamarinis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karanicas
authors.forename: Garyfallia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kokkini
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003092:Colitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*