Endometriosis of the appendix presenting as acute appendicitis with unusual appearance

Binni John, B P St John, Alicia Snider, A E Snider, H Kellermier, Harry Kellermier, S Minhas, Sohail Minhas, James Nottingham, J M Nottingham
International journal of surgery case reports · 2018 · vol. 53 , pp. 211–213 · doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2018.10.048 · PMID:30423543 · W2899316624
article OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 14 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

This case study describes a menstruating woman with appendicitis-like symptoms and symptoms of appendicitis, where laparoscopy revealed a contracted appendix without inflammation, which pathology later confirmed as endometriosis.

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis of the appendix is an uncommon mimicker of acute appendicitis which makes for a diagnostic dilemma. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a rare case of a menstruating woman presenting with classic symptoms of appendicitis, without the characteristic inflammatory changes seen on laparoscopy consistent with appendicitis. Instead, the appendix appeared unusually contracted on itself. Pathologic review of the appendix revealed microscopic findings of endometriosis. DISCUSSION: We theorize the growth and shedding of the endometrial tissue during menstruation caused compression of the neural plexi in the wall of the appendix leading to the presentation mimicking acute appendicitis. CONCLUSION: Given the potential for endometrial appendicitis, we propose appendectomy in reproductive age female patients with right lower quadrant pain, regardless of appendix appearance on laparoscopy.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (12)

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europepmc
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK