title: Pill impaction mimicking appendicitis in an HIV-positive patient.
abstract: Abdominal pain is a frequent presenting symptom among HIV-positive patients seeking care at emergency departments. We report a case of a 45-year-old HIV-infected Hispanic man who presented with right lower quadrant pain accompanied by fever, decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting. The results of a CT scan of his abdomen were normal with no evidence of appendicitis. A colonoscopy was performed and revealed an impacted pill in the appendiceal orifice. The pill was removed endoscopically, and pill impaction has not recurred.
authors.affiliation: Long Beach Health Department Early Intervention Program, Long Beach, California, USA.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torno
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shallman
mesh_terms: D001064:Appendicitis / Q000209:etiology*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography