Neurogenic appendicopathy: A rare differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Aim of the study

In histologically non-inflamed but clinically suspect appendices, changes described as neurogenic appendicopathy with fibrous or fibrolipomatous obliterations can be observed. The purpose of this study was to analyse the incidence of these entities of the appendix in a longitudinal patient cohort.

Patients and methods

This is a retrospective single-centre study of 457 patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy from 2017 to 2020 due to suspected acute appendicitis.

Results

In 72 patients (15.8%) with clinically suspected acute appendicitis, the appendix showed no distinct signs of acute inflammation during the procedure. In 43 patients, histological analysis revealed neurogenic appendicopathy or fibrous and fibrolipomatous obliteration. Female gender (P = 0.088), younger age (P < 0.0001), longer pain duration (P < 0.0001) and repetitive pain episodes were more frequent in these patients than in those with acute appendicitis. Inflammation markers were also decreased in the group of patients with neurogenic appendicopathy (leukocytes 9.8 ± 3.5 vs. 13.0 ± 4.5 G/L and C-reactive protein 38.7 ± 60.7 vs. 59.4 ± 70.5 mg/L).

Conclusion

Neurogenic appendicopathy with fibrous/fibrolipomatous obliteration is a differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis that can only be confirmed by pathology. Female gender, young age, prolonged duration with repetitive episodes of pain, and relatively low inflammatory markers are evocative of this diagnosis.