Appendicitis in immunosuppressed children: Still a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma?
Acute appendicitis in the immunosuppressed patients are often difficult to diagnose and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Recent debates on primary appendicitis and typhlitis-associated appendicitis have contributed to the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. We retrospectively reviewed all our immunosuppressed patients with appendicitis. The most frequent presenting symptom was fever followed by non-specific intermittent abdominal pain. The median delay in diagnosis was 4 days. CT scan was useful in making the diagnosis, but the presence of adjacent bowel thickening has contributed to the dilemma in diagnosis and treatment.
Chui
Chan-Hon
CH
Department of Pediatric Surgery, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. chchui@surgeryforchildren.com
Chan
Mei-Yoke
MY
Tan
Ah-Moy
AM
Low
Yee
Y
Yap
Te-Lu
TL
Jacobsen
Anette S
AS
D000293:Adolescent; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male