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Acute appendicitis in pregnancy (MRI)

Case contributed by Vikas Shah
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

28/40 pregnant. Right upper quadrant pain and fever. No abnormality detected on ultrasound.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female

Intrauterine pregnancy confirmed but not interrogated in detail. The gravid uterus displaces the cecal pole and appendix out of the right iliac fossa, and the cecal pole is tilted posteriorly. An acute inflammatory mass is present posteriorly, with edema of the fat and free fluid throughout the right side of the abdomen. Appendicoliths are seen within the distended edematous appendix. The appearances are consistent with acute appendicitis.

Histopathology

Macroscopic: Appendix covered in fibrinopurulent exudate 60x14mm.

Microscopic: This appendix shows abundant transmural acute inflammation and extensive tissue necrosis. There is no evidence of dysplasia or malignancy.

Conclusion: Appendix - acute gangrenous appendicitis

Case Discussion

The MRI findings are consistent with acute appendicitis with an inflammatory mass in the right side of the abdomen, and the findings were confirmed at surgery. Due to a change in the position of the appendix during pregnancy, localization of pain varies. The position as seen here also made an ultrasound diagnosis difficult to make. MRI, where available, is recommended as the second line modality by the ACR Appropriateness Criteria 1,2.

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