A Case of Barium Appendicitis after a Small Bowel Series.
- Author:
Ki Ho YUN
1
;
Hyeon Woong YANG
;
Se Young PARK
;
Young Wook YOO
;
Seung Yeon NA
;
Young Woo LEE
;
Sang Woo CHA
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. 20040544@eulji.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Barium appendicitis;
Barium;
Acute appendicitis;
Small bowel series
- MeSH:
Abdomen;
Appendectomy;
Appendicitis;
Appendix;
Barium;
Colonoscopy;
Endoscopy;
Fecal Impaction;
Fever;
Hematologic Tests;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Leukocyte Count;
Melena;
Retention (Psychology);
Young Adult
- From:Korean Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
2011;43(1):38-41
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Barium appendicitis is a rare complication that occurs due to barium retention in the appendix after a barium study. It is believed that retained barium in the appendix forms a barium-coated fecalith and causes barium appendicitis. A 19-year-old man visited the hospital due to melena. He underwent an endoscopy and a colonoscopy but no bleeding focus was discovered. Next, a small bowel series was performed to confirm the absence of small bowel bleeding. Two weeks later, he felt right lower quadrant pain in his abdomen and developed a fever. A blood test revealed an elevated white blood cell count. A plain abdominal radiograph indicated retained barium in the appendix. A computed tomography scan revealed a dilated barium filled appendix. Thus, the pain was thought to caused by barium retention in the appendix that precipitated acute appendicitis. He underwent an appendectomy and healed well without complications.
