Appendiceal diverticulitis masked as acute appendicitis.

Abstract

Diverticula of the appendix have been the subject of study since the early 1900s. Appendiceal diverticulitis has varying presentations that can be acute or chronic and has features that differentiate it from classical acute appendicitis. We present the case of a 61-year-old female who was incidentally found to have appendiceal diverticulitis. Appendiceal diverticula are divided into two types, congenital and acquired. This patient developed an acquired appendiceal diverticula. The exact etiology and pathogenesis of acquired appendiceal diverticulosis is unknown. Risk factors associated with acquired appendiceal diverticulosis include male gender, older adults (>30 years old), Hirschsprung's disease, and cystic fibrosis. They were not found to be associated with colonic diverticulosis. Of these known risk factors, our patient only met the criteria of being an older adult. With the post-operative diagnosis of appendiceal diverticulitis, the patient does not require any further intervention beyond the appendectomy which was already completed.