Although toothpick ingestion is rare, it can lead to fatal complications in the gastrointestinal tract. Diagnosing toothpick ingestion is difficult because most patients do not recall swallowing one. We report 2 cases of toothpick-ingestion-induced colon injury, mimicking diverticulitis. The first patient was a 47-year-old male who had received conservative treatment under the impression of his having diverticulitis in the cecum. Ultrasonography revealed a linear foreign body in the right lower abdomen; a subsequent laparoscopic examination revealed inflammation around the cecum, but no evidence of bowel perforation. A thorough investigation revealed a toothpick embedded in the subcutaneous fat and muscle layer of the lower abdominal wall; we removed it. The second patient was a 56-year-old male who had received conservative treatment under the impression of his having diverticulitis in the sigmoid colon. An explorative laparotomy revealed a toothpick piercing the sigmoid colon; we performed an anterior resection. Both patients were discharged without postoperative complications.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Cecum ; Colon* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Deglutition ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulitis, Colonic* ; Eating ; Foreign Bodies ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Ultrasonography

Pylephlebitis, or suppurative thrombophlebitis of the portal venous system, is a rare condition occurring secondary to abdominal infections such as diverticulitis. Pylephlebitis can be diagnosed via ultrasonography or CT scan, and is characterized by the presence of a thrombus in the portal vein and bacteremia. However, the diagnosis may be delayed due to the vague nature of the clinical symptoms, causing morbidity and mortality due to pylephlebitis to remain high. Early diagnosis and immediate antibiotic therapy are important for favorable prognosis. Therefore, pylephlebitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for cases of nonspecific abdominal pain and fever. We report a case of pylephlebitis secondary to diverticulitis, associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis. Such cases have not been widely reported.
Abdominal Pain ; Bacteremia ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diverticulitis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Portal Vein ; Prognosis ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa* ; Pseudomonas* ; Sepsis* ; Thrombophlebitis ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Meckel's diverticulum is a common congenital anomaly in the small bowel. Most cases of Meckel's diverticulum are asymptomatic and are found incidentally. We herein report on a case of a 21-year-old male patient who complained of lower abdominal pain and febrile sensation with incidentally diagnosed gangrenous change of Meckel's diverticulum due to axial torsion itself. A 21-year-old man presented to our institution with acute lower abdominal pain. No accurate focus on abdominal pain such as appendicitis or diverticulitis was observed on abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal CT scan. However, the physical examination of the patient revealed the symptom of localized peritonitis with fever. Finally, laparoscopic exploration was performed to determine the cause of acute abdominal pain. During the operation, we found gangrenous change of Meckel's diverticulum with axial torsion itself and laparoscopic Meckel's diverticulectomy was performed. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day.
Abdominal Pain ; Appendicitis ; Diverticulitis ; Fever ; Gangrene* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum* ; Peritonitis ; Physical Examination ; Sensation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Torsion Abnormality ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

We describe a rare case of terminal ileal diverticulitis in a 68-year-old female with a day of history of right lower quadrant pain and tenderness, mimicking acute appendicitis. Ultrasonography revealed small sac-like out-pouching lesions with increased echogenicity of surrounding fat in thickened terminal ileum, suggesting inflamed diverticula. We diagnosed terminal ileal diverticulitis primarily by ultrasonography. The diagnosis was confirmed by subsequent computed tomography.
Aged ; Appendicitis ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulitis* ; Diverticulum ; Female ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography*

Primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA) is a condition that results from spontaneous torsion, ischemia, or inflammation of an epiploic appendage. This condition is manifested by localized abdominal pain and tenderness, which is often mistaken for diverticulitis or appendicitis in the adult population. PEA is a self-limiting disease, and differential diagnosis with surgical condition is important in order to prevent unnecessary surgery. Although it is commonly reported in adults, it is rarely reported in the pediatric population. We report on the radiologic findings of two cases of PEA in a 12- and a 17-year-old boy, focusing on sonographic findings.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Appendicitis ; Child* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diverticulitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Male ; Peas ; Pediatrics ; Ultrasonography ; Unnecessary Procedures

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an uncommon cause of presinusoidal hypertension and can result from cirrhosis, malignancy, infection, inflammation, and congenital and acquired thrombophilic states. Infectious and inflammatory causes include pylephlebitis, omphalitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, appendicitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, PVT induced by a lung abscess has not been reported. We experienced a 50-year-old male complaining of right upper quadrant pain, fever, and coughing. A lung abscess and PVT were revealed by computed tomography and abdominal Doppler ultrasonography. The PVT resolved, in part, after an 8-day course of antibiotic therapy. We report a case of PVT as a complication of a lung abscess and review the literature.
Appendicitis ; Cholecystitis ; Cough ; Diverticulitis ; Fever ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Lung ; Lung Abscess ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; Portal Vein ; Protein S ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Colovesical fistulae secondary to diverticulitis usually manifest themselves as non-specific lower abdominal discomfort and urologic symptoms. CT is known to be the most sensitive modality for diagnosing this entity. Ultrasonography is the initial diagnostic tool used for evaluating patients with these symptoms, but there have been no reports describing the ultrasonographic findings of colovesical fistulae in Korea. Therefore, we present a case of an ultrasonographically diagnosed colovesical fistula complicating sigmoid diverticulitis. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used in conjunction with lower abdominal compression in order to determine if the fistulous tract was open or obliterated.
Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Diverticulitis ; Fistula ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Korea ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The planned therapy of right colonic diverticulitis is very difficult because preoperative diagnosis is uncommon and the method of treatment is usually decided at the time of laparotomy. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of right colonic diverticulitis, the clinical distinctions between preoperatively and postoperatively diagnosed patients, the recurrence rate, and the hospital stay by treatment modality. METHODS: Among 104 patients who were treated for right colonic diverticulitis from January 1997 to May 2005, we enrolled 90 patients who had been diagnosed by the operation or a barium enema study (BE), and who had not been lost to follow-up. Patients were divided into three groups based on treatment modality: Group 1 (n=28), conservative management with intravenous antibiotics; Group 2 (n=46), aggressive resection; Group 3 (n=16), appendectomy with intravenous antibiotics. RESULTS: Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) detected 12 (22.6%) and 21 (87.5%) cases of right colonic diverticulitis, respectively. BE was applied to 45 patients, 28 (62.2%) of them with multiple diverticula. Right colonic diverticulitis was the preoperative diagnosis in 39 patients (43.3%). The length of hospital stay was significantly different between the groups (P<0.001): 4.9+/-3.1 days in Group 1, 7.5+/-3.7 days in Group 2, and 3.8+/-0.9 days in Group 3. Two patients (7.1%) in Group 1, 2 patients (4.3%) in Group 2, and 5 patients (31.3%) in Group 3 had recurrent diverticulitis during the follow-up period (P=0.007). The Kaplan-Meier estimated recurrence rates for Groups 1, 2, and 3 were statistically significantly different (P=0.0086). CONCLUSIONS: To differentiate right colonic diverticulitis from appendicitis, focusing on the peculiar feature in contrast to appendicitis and appropriate utilization of CT are important. If diagnosed preoperatively, uncomplicated right colonic diverticulitis can be managed by conservative management with intravenous antibiotics. If diagnosed intraoperatively, aggressive resection is advocated as the most effective method for decreasing the recurrence rate.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Barium ; Colon* ; Diagnosis* ; Diverticulitis* ; Diverticulitis, Colonic ; Diverticulum ; Enema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

We report a case of perforated jejunal diverticulitis in a 68-year-old man with iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. The patient presented with right upper abdominal pain. Ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic structure connected to a small bowel loop, and subsequent CT examination showed multiple diverticula in proximal jejunal loops with free air trapped within the mesenteric leaf. Segmental resection of the jejunal loop confirmed jejunal diverticulitis with perforation.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Cushing Syndrome ; Diverticulitis* ; Diverticulum ; Humans ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The proper diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is difficult and delayed because of the variety of clinical manifestations. We reviewed clinical characteristics of symptomatic MD to facilitate early detection. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the clinical manifestations, diagnostic tools, histopathological findings, and operative findings in 58 patients with symptomatic MD. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2.8 : 1. The most common symptom of MD was bleeding. Others symptoms included: vomiting, abdominal pain, irritability, abdominal distension and fever in the order of frequency. The clinical manifestations of symptomatic MD were lower gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, perforation, diverticulitis and hemoperitoneum, in the order of frequency. The causes of intestinal obstruction were intussusception, internal hernia, band, volvulus, invagination, in the order of frequency. Seventy five percent of patient with MD were diagnosed prior to 5 years of age. The most frequently used diagnostic tool was the Meckel's scan. The diverticulum was located 2 cm to 120 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. The length of the diverticulum ranged from 1 cm to 10 cm and 94% were less than 5 cm. The most common ectopic tissue found in the MD was gastric mucosa. Ileal resection was more frequently performed than diverticulectomy. CONCLUSION: In cases of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, obstruction and repeated intussusception, the meckel's scan, ultrasound and computed tomography shoud be considered to rule out MD, and if clinically necessary, an exploratory laparotomy when needed.
Abdominal Pain ; Choristoma ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulitis ; Diverticulum ; Female ; Fever ; Gastric Mucosa ; Hemoperitoneum ; Hemorrhage ; Hernia ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Volvulus ; Intussusception ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting