Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Amebic Acute Appendicitis: Systematic Review of 174 Cases

  • Published:
World Journal of Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to determine the clinical and demographic features of acute amebic appendicitis by reviewing the reported cases.

Methods

The PubMed and MEDLINE databases were searched to identify articles related to amebic appendicitis using key words. The search included all articles published between 1935 and 2012 without restricting language, journal, or country.

Results

A total of 174 cases of amebic appendicitis reported in 42 articles were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 23.5 years (range 2 months–83 years). The majority of patients were male (74.0 %), and the majority of cases were reported from countries with high/moderate risk for amebiasis (76.5 %). A history of traveling to a high/moderate-risk country was cited in 64.0 % of the overall cases. The interval between travel and onset of clinical symptoms ranged from months to years. History of or coexisting dysenteric diarrhea was present in only 7.0 and 14.0 % of overall cases, respectively. A preoperative diagnosis of amebiasis was cited for only five cases (3.0 %). Complicated appendicitis was present in 30.7 % of cases, some of which required colon resection. Severe postoperative intraabdominal complications (e.g., liver abscess, abdominal sepsis, gastrointestinal fistula, hemorrhage) occurred in 19.4 % of surgery-treated patients. The overall mortality rate was 3.2 %.

Conclusion

Appendectomy specimens should be routinely sent for histopathologic examination. In the case of suspected amebic acute appendicitis, extra precautions—early appendectomy, metronidazole for antibiotic prophylaxis, wet-preparation examination, obtaining a timely pathology result, increasing the awareness of uncommon complications of appendectomy—can hasten appropriate therapeutic intervention and improve outcome.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abellan I, Munitiz V, Abrisqueta J et al (2012) Acuteamoebic appendicitis. Cir Esp 91:201–202

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Jones OP, Murphy JA, Hamid BN et al (2011) Colocutaneous fistula secondary toamoebiasis. Int J Surg Case Rep 2:40–43

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Singh NG, Mannan AA, Kahvic M (2010) Acute amebic appendicitis: report of a rare case. Indian J Pathol Microbiol 53:767–768

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kostrzewski P, Kuszyk R, Wawrzonkoska-Dabrowska A (2010) Amoebic liver abscess: case report. Przegl Epidemiol 64:77–80

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bonnichon A, Henninot E, Niang A et al (2009) Pleuro-pulmonary manifestations disclosing hepaticamoebiasis. Rev Pneumol Clin 65:300–305

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Pervez S, Raza AN (2008) A child with acute appendicitis. Eur J Pediatr 167:127–128

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bykova RN, Evsiukov OA, Mikhalevskaia LA (2007) Treatment of amebiasis surgical complications in HIV patients. Khirurgiia (Mosk) (10):51–54

  8. Andrade JE, Mederos R, Rivero H et al (2007) Amebiasis presenting as acute appendicitis. South Med J 100:1140–1142

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ishihara S, Kitayama J, Nagawa H (2007) Clinical challenges and images in GI: amoebic appendicitis. Gastroenterology 133(1412):1747

    Google Scholar 

  10. Guzman-Valdivia G (2006) Acute amebic appendicitis. World J Surg 30:1038–1042. doi:10.1007/s00268-005-0104-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Zardawi IM, Kattampallil JS, Rode JW (2003) Amoebic appendicitis. Med J Aust 178:523–524

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bruno G, Caratozzolo E, Massani M et al (2003) Supra infection of amoebic liver abscess consequent to acute appendicitis: clinical case. Minerva Chir 58:257–259

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. McCarthy JS, Peacock D, Trown KP et al (2002) Endemic invasiveamoebiasis in northern Australia. Med J Aust 177:570

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ramdial PK, Madiba TE, Kharwa S et al (2002) Isolated amoebic appendicitis. Virchows Arch 441:63–68

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Yanagisawa M, Kaneko M, Aizawa T et al (2002) A case of amebic liver abscess complicated by hemobilia due to rupture of hepatic artery aneurysm. Hepatogastroenterology 49:375–378

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Casavilca Zambrano S, Gomez Anchante V, Cisneros Gallegos E (2000) Complicatedamoebic appendicitis: report of a case. Rev Gastroenterol Peru 20:296–299

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gotohda N, Itano S, Okada Y et al (2000) Acute appendicitis caused by amebiasis. J Gastroenterol 35:861–863

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Oran I (2000) Transient appendiceal enlargement in a patient with colonic amebiasis: sonographic detection and follow-up. J Clin Ultrasound 28:368–370

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ciftci AO, Karnak I, Senocak ME et al (1999) Spectrum of complicated intestinal amebiasis through resected specimens: incidence and outcome. J Pediatr Surg 34:1369–1373

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Demartines N, von Wartburg U, Musy JP et al (1995) Amebic appendicitis with subsequent perforated pancolitis. Chirurg 66:534–536

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Siddiqui MN, Ahmed R, Shaikh H et al (1994) Primary amoebic appendicitis. Trop Doct 24:43–44

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Malik AK, Hanum N, Yip CH (1994) Acute isolated amoebic appendicitis. Histopathology 24:87–88

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Nadler S, Cappell MS, Bhatt B et al (1990) Appendiceal infection by Entamoeba histolytica and Strongyloides stercoralis presenting like acute appendicitis. Dig Dis Sci 35:603–608

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bhaskar KV, Malik AK, Sharma SC et al (1988) Isolated amebic appendicitis: a pathologic rarity. Am J Gastroenterol 83:1188–1189

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Davidson BR, Neoptolemos JP, Watkin D et al (1988) Invasive amoebiasis: an unusual presentation. Gut 29:682–685

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Robinson AS, Levinson M (1984) Amebic appendicitis associated with hepatic abscess. South Med J 77:1047–1048

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kaushik SP, Bhagwat AG (1981) Amoebiasis cutis. Trop Geogr Med 33:291–293

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Judy KL (1974) Amebiasis presenting as an acute abdomen. Am J Surg 127:275–279

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Peison B (1973) Acute localized amebic appendicitis: report of a case. Dis Colon Rectum 16:532–536

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Menon KA, Vijendran M (1973) Cutaneous amoebiasis. Aust N Z J Surg 42:285–288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Palinacci C, Ramiara Y, Laroche R (1972) A case of post-appendectomy recurrent chronic fistulas cured by an amebicidal treatment. Med Trop (Mars) 32:755–757

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kapoor OP, Joshi VR, Sabnis AM (1972) Amoebic appendicitis. J Trop Med Hyg 75:1–3

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gulati SM, Grover NK, Iyengar B et al (1972) Amebic appendicitis with fulminating peritonitis: report of a case. Dis Colon Rectum 15:308–310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Botman T, Ruys PJ (1963) Amoebic appendicitis ın a newborn infant. Trop Geogr Med 15:221–224

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. El-Zawahry M (1963) Cutaneous amoebiasis. J Egypt Med Assoc 46:1007–1010

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. De Zoysa MH, De Silva CC (1960) A case of amoebic granuloma of the caecum with an acute appendicular abscess in early infancy. J Trop Pediatr 5:118–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Gambardella A, Gentile L (1955) Cutaneous and subcutaneous amebiasis caused by abdominal surgery. Acta Med Ital Mal Infett Parassit 10:272–277

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Sn De, Sengupta KP (1952) The amoebic appendix and its perforation. J Indian Med Assoc 21:242–245

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kleitsch WP, Kisner P (1951) Amebic appendicitis, peritonitis and wound infection. Ann Surg 133:139–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Steimpen SJ, Marcus DM, Kelso RW Jr (1951) Amebiasis masquerading as appendicitis. Calif Med 74:36–37

    Google Scholar 

  41. Gilje LE, Lampson RS (1946) Acute appendicitis in amebic dysentery: report of a case. U S Nav Med Bull 46:109–111

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Wilkinson W (1935) Chronicamoebiasis and chronic appendicitis. Br Med J 2:452–453

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Gupta SC, Gupta AK, Keswani NK et al (1989) Pathology of tropical appendicitis. J Clin Pathol 42:1169–1172

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Kakande I, Nehra MK (1990) Appendicectomy in Consolata Hospital, Nyeri: analysis of operative and histological findings. East Afr Med J 67:573–577

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Ahmed R, Shaikh H, Siddiqui M et al (1994) Amoebic appendicitis: a rare entity. J Pak Med Assoc 44:92–93

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Yildirim S, Nursal TZ, Tarim A et al (2005) A rare cause of acute appendicitis: parasitic infection. Scand J Infect Dis 37:757–759

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Hedya MS, Nasr MM, Ezzat H et al (2012) Histopathological findings in appendectomy specimens: a retrospective clinicopathological analysis. J Egypt Soc Parasitol 42:157–164

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Acuna-Soto R, Maguire JH, Wirth DF (2000) Gender distribution in asymptomatic and invasive amebiasis. Am J Gastroenterol 95:1277–1283

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Zilbert NR, Stamell EF, Ezon I et al (2009) Management and outcomes for children with acute appendicitis differ by hospital type: areas for improvement at public hospitals. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 48:499–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Bickell NA, Aufses AH Jr, Rojas M et al (2006) How time affects the risk of rupture in appendicitis. J Am Coll Surg 202:401–406

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Abou-Nukta F, Bakhos C, Arroyo K et al (2006) Effects of delaying appendectomy for acute appendicitis for 12 to 24 hours. Arch Surg 141:504–506

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Kenner BM, Rosen T (2006) Cutaneous amebiasis in a child and review of the literature. Pediatr Dermatol 23:231–234

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Malonga EE, Sosso A, Yao JG et al (1988) The value of metronidazole in the indications for appendicectomy in a tropical environment: apropos of 183 cases. Med Trop (Mars) 48:45–47

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Liver Transplantation Institute, Inonu University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, 44280, Turkey

    Emrah Otan, Sami Akbulut & Cuneyt Kayaalp

Authors
  1. Emrah Otan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sami Akbulut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cuneyt Kayaalp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sami Akbulut.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Otan, E., Akbulut, S. & Kayaalp, C. Amebic Acute Appendicitis: Systematic Review of 174 Cases. World J Surg 37, 2061–2073 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-2079-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-2079-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation