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Appendiceal diverticulitis: multidetector CT features

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Abstract

Purpose

Appendiceal diverticulitis has been difficult to distinguish from acute appendicitis clinically and radiologically. The purpose of this study was to describe multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features of cases of pathologically proved appendiceal diverticulitis at our institution over a 36-month period.

Materials and methods

Seven of 156 patients who underwent appendectomy with the preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis were pathologically diagnosed with appendiceal diverticulitis. Two radiologists reviewed the MDCT images for these 7 patients.

Results

On MDCT, a total of 8 inflamed diverticula were visualized as small fluid-filled luminal structures with thick enhanced walls or as solid enhanced masses protruding from the appendix for 6 of 7 patients. For 2 of these 6 patients, MDCT revealed a total of 5 normal diverticula visualized as small air-filled luminal structures with thin walls. For 1 of the 7 patients, neither inflamed or normal diverticula could be identified on MDCT. MDCT revealed appendiceal wall thickening with a tiny or no luminal fluid collection for 5 patients and with a moderate fluid collection for 1 patient, and a normal appendiceal wall for 1 patient.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that MDCT can reveal appendiceal diverticula and has potential in the preoperative diagnosis of appendiceal diverticulitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama, 350-8550, Japan

    Hisato Osada, Hitoshi Ohno, Wataru Watanabe, Takemichi Okada & Norinari Honda

  2. Department of Pathology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, Kawagoe, Japan

    Kazuho Saiga

Authors
  1. Hisato Osada
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  2. Hitoshi Ohno
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  3. Kazuho Saiga
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  4. Wataru Watanabe
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  5. Takemichi Okada
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  6. Norinari Honda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hisato Osada.

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Osada, H., Ohno, H., Saiga, K. et al. Appendiceal diverticulitis: multidetector CT features. Jpn J Radiol 30, 242–248 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-011-0039-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-011-0039-2

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