Enterobius vermicularis causing symptoms of appendicitis in Nepal

This study set out to determine the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in surgically removed appendices and to assess the possible relation of the parasite to acute appendicitis. All 624 surgically removed appendices received in the Department of Pathology, BPKIHS, Dharan, Nepal during 2(1/2) years (August 1999-January 2002) were examined. E. vermicularis was identified in nine (1.62%) appendices from the patients with a clinical diagnosis of appendicitis. The parasite was most frequently seen in histologically normal appendices (6/71) and was rarely associated with histological change of acute appendicitis (3/539). No cases of E. vermicularis infestation occurred in appendices showing chronic inflammation or removed during the course of other surgical procedures. E. vermicularis was found more frequently in uninflamed and histologically normal appendices (8.45%) than those which were inflamed with histopathologic changes of acute appendicitis (0.56%). It may be a cause of symptoms resembling acute appendicitis although the mechanism for this does not involve mucosal invasion by the parasite.     

A rare cause of acute appendicitis: parasitic infection

The role of parasitic infection in the aetiology of acute appendicitis has been discussed for more than 100 years. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of parasitic infection in surgically removed appendices, and to identify whether this type of infection is associated with appendicitis. 104 appendices were removed from patients clinically diagnosed with acute appendicitis, and 30 were removed in the course of other surgical procedures. All the operations were performed at Baskent University Adana Hospital between January 1999 and December 2004. Enterobius vermicularis was identified in 4 (3.8%) appendices from patients with clinical appendicitis, and Entamoeba histolytica was detected in 1 (1.0%) appendix from this group. No parasites were found in the 30 appendices that were removed during other surgical procedures. Specimens from 3 of the 4 appendices with E. vermicularis showed no histological evidence of acute inflammation. It is concluded that parasites in the appendix may produce symptoms which resemble acute appendicitis, but parasitic infection rarely causes acute appendicitis.     

Appendicectomy for recurrent and chronic appendicitis

In recent years, several reports have underlined the possible existence of chronic appendicitis. Up to 38% of spontaneously resolving acute appendicitis may recur. We studied 41 patients operated on between July 2000 and June 2001 for chronic and recurrent appendicitis at a teaching hospital in the city of Nairobi. The patients comprised 17.8% of all patients undergoing surgery for appendicitis during the study period. The majority (65.9%) were females. The faecolith rate was 51.2%. About half of appendices removed for these symptoms were normal at histology. Nearly 70% of the normal appendices contained faecoliths. Symptoms resolved in 90% of faecolith-containing appendices and 87.5% of non-faecolith-containing appendices that were normal on histology.     

Parasitic infection of the appendix and its possible relationship to acute appendicitis

From 1,600 surgically removed appendices, 24 (1.5%) were found to have helminths. Enterobius vermicularis was observed in 23 of the 24 specimens (95.8%) and Taenia sp was detected in only 1 (4.2%) case. Sixteen patients (66.7%) were less than 10 year-old; 15 patients were male and 9 female. Pathologic analysis disclosed acute neutrophilic inflammation in 12 cases and lymphoid hyperplasia in 10 of the 24 appendices. Gangrenous appendicitis was diagnosed in 3 cases and peritonitis was found in 11 of the 24 infested appendices. Parasitic infection of the appendix is an uncommon cause of acute appendicitis in children and adolescents.     

Are acute exacerbations of chronic inflammatory appendicitis triggered by coprostasis and/or coproliths？

AIM- To examine the role of coprostasis and coproliths in recurrent appendicitis. METHODS： We evaluated four hundred and twenty seven consecutive pathology reports of all appendectomy specimens from January 2003 to December 2004. Findings were categorised as showing acute appendicitis, acute recurrent appendicitis, subacute recurrent appendicitis, chronic appendicitis, or appendices without inflammation. All patients had presented with acute right lower quadrant pain, In 94 instances, there was a history of recurrent similar episodes in the past. RESULTS： Of the 427 histology reports, 294 were inter- preted as showing acute appendicitis, 56 acute recurrent appendicitis, 34 subacute recurrent appen-dicitis, 28 chronic appendicitis, and 15 non-inflamed appendices. Coprostasis was observed in 58 patients （13.58%） and the presence of coprolith in 6 （1.4%）. Coprostasis, and age, were among the predictors in the final model. CONCLUSION： Coprostasis but not coproliths seems to be a contributing factor to acute exacerbations of chronic inflammatory appendicitis.     

Laparoscopic appendectomies: results of a monocentric prospective and non-randomized study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Appendicitis is one of the most frequent causes of abdominal pain in western countries. It occurs in 6 to 7% of the United States population. Despite laboratory and imagery tests, 15 to 40% appendices removed by laparotomy appear to be normal at histological examination. Thus, others pathologies beside appendicitis may be found in patients with right lower quadrant pain. This had led some to advocate laparoscopy for patients suspected to have acute appendicitis. The aim of this study is to determine the contribution of laparoscopy in patients with right lower quadrant pain and the implications of removing a macroscopic normal appendix. Rates of all pathologies and normal appendices were found at laparoscopy. Morbidity, mortality rates and length of hospital stay linked to laparoscopic appendectomy. DESIGN: Prospective non-randomized study. METHODOLOGY: Between January 1995 and September 2004, 615 patients have been approached by laparoscopy for acute, subacute or chronic abdominal right-lower-quadrant pain in our Department of Digestive and Laparoscopic Surgery. Thirteen patients have not been hold and the study involves 602 patients including 311 men and 291 women with a mean age of 33 years. All removed tools have been analyzed histologically. During the same period, only 5 patients have been approached by laparotomy. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty patients (88%) had appendicitis, 39 patients (6.5%) had another pathology and no disease was found in 33 patients (5.5%). According to the sex, appendicitis was found in 242 women (83.2%) versus 288 men (92.6%). Thirty-four women (11.7%) versus 5 men (2%) had another pathology. The local morbidity was 4.3%, the general morbidity 1% and the mortality was 0%. The average length of postoperative hospital stay was 4 days (range: 1-27). Oral intake was assumed on average 1.5 days postoperatively (range: 0-13). There were 10 reoperations (1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is a reliable technique, safe and reproducible. It is an effective and relatively atraumatic tool to investigate abdominal cavity. This allows an accurate decision-making, which is especially advantageous in young women who have a high rate of non-appendicular pathologies. Laparoscopy also reduces the rate of unnecessary abdominal exploration while realizing a correct diagnosis of others possible pathologies. We therefore advocate laparoscopy in patients with abdominal right-lower-quadrant pain, especially women.     

Appendiceal schistosomiasis

Twenty surgical specimens of appendiceal schistosomiasis were reviewed retrospectively. They constituted 1 percent of 1984 appendices seen among approximately 15,000 surgical specimensexamined at free central laboratories serving the Igbos of Nigeria, West Africa. Oviposition bySchistosoma haematobium was classified according to its association with suppurative appendicitis and normal appendices. Seven of ten infested appendices obtained at curative operations showed suppurative appendicitis, whereas eight of nine infested appendices removed at incidental appendectomies were negative. One interval appendectomy was also negative. It is postulated that utilization of this novel classification on a worldwide basis will help to end the controversy concerning the etiologic role of schistosome ova in acute appendicitis.     

Colorectal spirochetosis: clinical significance of the infestation

Mucosal biopsy specimens from 300 consecutive patients with symptoms requiring sigmoidoscopy were examined for spirochetosis by light and electron microscopy. Colorectal spirochetosis was detected in 15 of the patients (5%). Apart from the spirochetal infestation, the mucosa appeared normal with no inflammatory reaction. The spirochetes were eliminated upon treatment with neomycin and bacitracin, but the symptoms of the patients remained unchanged. It is concluded that in the present material, colorectal spirochetosis was without clinical significance.     

Extramedullary hematopoietic growth factor and cytokine gene expression indicate endocrine regulation of hematopoiesis in patients with acute appendicitis

 To analyze the role of hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) and other cytokines in the regulation of hematopoiesis in vivo, we investigated HGFs and cytokine gene expression in appendices obtained from patients who underwent surgery for suspected appendicitis. Concomitantly, HGF gene expression was studied in bone marrow (BM) biopsy specimens and plasma HGF levels were measured. G-CSF gene expression was detected in inflamed but not in normal appendices. With one exception, GM-CSF was detectable in all appendices whether inflamed or not, whereas IL-3, except for one case, was not expressed in appendices. None of the investigated HGFs appeared to be expressed in BM biopsy specimens concurrently obtained with the appendices. Plasma G-CSF levels were significantly elevated in patients with appendicitis compared with patients without inflamed appendices. Circulating levels of GM-CSF and IL-3 were not increased. Significant up-regulation of IL-8 and IL-6 gene expression was observed in response to inflammation, in contrast to IL-1α and IL-1β expression, which appeared not to be influenced by the inflammatory state. These data indicate that G-CSF, and not GM-CSF or IL-3, is essential for the regulation of inducible granulopoiesis in acute inflammatory conditions, and that G-CSF acts in an endocrine fashion. Received: 1 September 1997 / Accepted: 19 September 1997     

The significance of a “positive” rectal examination in acute appendicitis

Summary The results of rectal examinations of 495 patients with suspected acute appendicitis were correlated with six other variables from the patients' histories and results of physical examinations. Positive rectal examination results were recorded for 46 per cent of all patients with acute appendicitis and for 53 per cent of those with normal appendices. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis should not be based solely or primarily on the results of the rectal examination. The examination should, however, be performed in all suspected cases of appendicitis to rule out gynecologic and urologic disease. “If you don't put your finger in, you put your foot in it.” - H. Bailey, 1973² “The examining physician often hesitates to make the necessary examination because it involves soiling the finger.”—W.J. Mayo, 1915 Read at the meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, San Diego, California, June 11 to 15, 1978.     

Spot urine 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid and acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Appendectomy for suspected appendicitis cases is a common procedure. Its clinical diagnosis needs to be supported by accurate confirmatory tests. No single paraclinical test with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity is available for its diagnosis. The appendix contains numerous serotonin-producing cells (enterochromaffin cells). In the inflammatory process and subsequent cell injury, serotonin is released and converted to 5-HIAA (5-hydroxy indole acetic acid). We studied the elevation of 5-HIAA in the spot urine of acute appendicitis patients. METHODOLOGY: 5-HIAA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in the spot urine samples of 40 healthy individuals and 166 patients who presented to emergency units of the university hospitals with acute abdominal pain. The results of the urine concentrations were compared to the histopathology reports of the removed appendices and the final diagnosis of other diseases. RESULTS: From 80 cases with a presumptive diagnosis of appendicitis, 73 were operated on and seven cases discharged after a few hours observation. Sixty-five out of 66 documented appendicitis patients showed a striking increase of urinary spot 5-HIAA with significant differences vs. all cases of healthy control individuals (P < 0.001). The 5-HIAA values of all of the negative appendectomy cases (n = 7) and all of the discharged cases after the observation period (n = 7) were within healthy control ranges. The mean value of the appendicitis group (42.76 +/- 2.26 mumol/L) was also significantly higher vs. all other acute abdomens which could mimic acute appendicitis (P < 0.05) excepting gastroenteritis patients. Considering 20 mumol/L as the cutoff value sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of this test for discriminating appendicitis in clinically suspected patients were 98%, 100%, 100% and 93%, respectively and in all acute abdomens were 98%, 71%, 69% and 98.6%, respectively. The patients with gastroenteritis also showed elevation of 5-HIAA (43.05 +/- 2.7 mumol/L) vs. other nonappendicitis groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We have concluded that measurement of 5-HIAA in spot urine is a highly reliable test supporting the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis and if it does not show an increase, appendicitis can be ruled out with a very high degree of confidence which helps to reduce unnecessary appendectomies. In clinically suspected appendicitis patients with diarrhea, an increase of 5-HIAA may not confirm the diagnosis.     

Acute Appendicitis: Is Removal of a Normal Appendix Still Existing and Can We Reduce Its Rate?

Background/Aim:

To determine the incidence of negative appendectomies and to identify factors that may reduce the risk of having the normal appendices removed surgically.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

College of Medicine and King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and Methods:

The surgical and histological data of 852 patients who underwent appendicectomy were reviewed. All incidental or interval appendicectomies were excluded. Only patients who were admitted and whose appendices were removed and subjected to histology were included (585 patients). The data on patients who had a normal appendix on histology further analyzed to include demographics, specific investigations, operative findings of the appendix and additional operative findings that need other surgical procedures.

Results:

A normal appendix was removed in 54 (9.2%) of the patients. Only 5.5% of those patients had a computed tomography (CT) scan preoperatively and 3.7% had diagnostic laparoscopy. In 21 patients, additional operative and histological findings were obtained that might have caused the right lower abdominal pain.

Conclusion:

In spite of the advances in the diagnostic and imaging techniques, the rates of negative findings on appendicectomy have not decreased much. Clinical judgment is still the most important factor in the management of patients with suspected acute appendicitis. The routine use of CT scan or diagnostic laparoscopy for all patients who are suspected to have appendicitis is neither cost-effective nor safe.     

Intestinal spirochetosis and chronic watery diarrhea: clinical and histological response to treatment and long-term follow up

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of intestinal spirochetosis is uncertain, therefore the aim of the present paper was to assess the prevalence of histological intestinal spirochetosis in patients with and without chronic watery diarrhea and to evaluate its clinical relevance. METHODS: A prospective diagnostic work-up of intestinal spirochetosis was made on biopsy samples taken from patients with chronic watery diarrhea submitted between 1994 and 2004 (1174 colonoscopies with multiple biopsies). Three other positive cases identified from routine endoscopic biopsies also were reviewed. In addition, samples from 100 asymptomatic control patients and a random sample of another 104 colonic specimens were reviewed for intestinal spirochetosis. The diagnosis was established by light and electron microscopy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16S ribosomal RNA and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase genes of the intestinal spirochetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli was performed on tissue biopsies of the 11 positive patients. After diagnosis, treatment with penicillin benzatine (PB) or metronidazole was offered to all symptomatic patients and they were followed for a mean of 45.4 months (range: 37-113 months). RESULTS: Eight patients with chronic watery diarrhea were positive for intestinal spirochetosis. Intestinal spirochetosis was not diagnosed in the controls. Histological resolution of the infection paralleled clinical recovery in six patients (following metronidazole treatment in three). Most patients showed mild, non-specific colonic inflammation. Invasion by the spirochetes was not demonstrated by electron microscopy. Brachyspira aalborgi and B. pilosicoli each were identified by PCR in two cases. CONCLUSIONS: Histological intestinal spirochetosis appears to be relatively uncommon in Catalonia (Spain) compared to previous reports from other countries, but was identified in patients (0.7%) with chronic watery diarrhea. Sustained clinical recovery after spontaneous or drug-induced spirochetal disappearance in these individuals suggests that intestinal spirochetosis may play a pathogenic role in chronic watery diarrhea. Treatment with metronidazole is advisable in patients with persistent symptoms.     

Ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: a prospective study

The diagnostic accuracy and practical impact of high-resolution sonography were prospectively studied in 523 consecutive patients admitted to the hospital with suspected appendicitis. The criteria for ultrasound diagnosis of acute appendicitis included visualization of a noncompressible aperistaltic appendix, with a targetlike appearance in transverse view and a diameter greater than or equal to 7 mm. In 115 of 130 patients with proven appendicitis the inflamed appendix or appendiceal abscess could be visualized, giving a sensitivity of 88.5%. The mean diameter of ultrasonically visible appendices was 11.4 +/- 3.2 mm. The overall accuracy and specificity of sonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis were 95.7% and 98%, respectively. The predictive value of a positive test was 94.5% and that of a negative result 96.3%. In a separate analysis of the results in 121 women of childbearing age, who have a high risk of preoperative misdiagnosis, the overall accuracy was found to be 96.7%, with 82.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Twenty-four (89%) of the 27 patients with appendiceal rupture (incidence 20.8%) were correctly diagnosed with ultrasound. The other 3 cases (11%) were missed. Routine use of ultrasonography has significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected appendicitis and has reduced the negative laparotomy rate from 22.9% to 13.2%.     

High prevalence of an active cytomegalovirus infection in the appendix of immunocompetent patients with acute appendicitis

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is a very common surgical diagnosis with unclear pathology. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can modulate our immune system and has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and various other inflammatory diseases. METHODS: We investigated the association between HCMV and acute appendicitis in 14 immunocompetent patients. Tissue sections from 10 AIDS patients with verified HCMV infection were used as positive controls, and uninflamed intestinal tissue sections from 12 patients were used as negative controls. RESULTS: Cells double positive for HCMV early antigens and IL-6/IL-8 were observed in the appendices of 64.3% of appendicitis patients (9 of 14) by immunohistochemical analysis. HCMV late antigen was found in the appendices of 42.9% of the acute appendicitis patients (6 of 14). Latent HCMV appendix infection, as verified by in situ hybridization, as well as HCMV IgG, was observed in 78.6% of patients (11 of 14). The study samples from all 6 healthy appendices were negative for HCMV early and late antigens, although 50% (3 of 6) were HCMV IgG and HCMV DNA positive. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that HCMV infection of the appendix is associated with acute appendicitis (P = 0.002) and possibly with the severity of the disease. Our study identified HCMV as a pathogen to be sought for in the appendicitis patient group, possibly allowing further medical treatment of these patients.     

Utility of eosinophilia as a diagnostic clue in lower abdominal pain in northern Australia: a retrospective case-control study

Acute eosinophilic enteritis is a difficult diagnosis to make. Insufficient consideration of eosinophilia may commit patients to surgical treatment when medical therapy may be appropriate. The aim of the study was to determine whether the eosinophil count was considered in the diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting with acute abdominal pain who subsequently underwent appendectomy and whether eosinophilia was related to subsequent histology. The method used in the study was retrospective case-control. None of three patients with increased eosinophil counts had histologically proven appendicitis (Fisher's exact test 0.025); worm segments were seen in two patients. None of 39 patients who had histologically proven appendicitis had increased eosinophil counts. Eosinophilia may be underutilized and helminth infection may not be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. A normal eosinophil count in the setting of clinically suspected appendicitis may make the diagnosis of eosinophilic enteritis less likely, but does not exclude it. Patients with abdominal pain and peripheral eosinophilia appear less likely to have acute appendicitis on subsequent histology; however, further study is required to validate these findings. The decision to operate remains one of clinical judgement.     

Alvarado,Eskelinen,Ohhmann and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis scores for diagnosis of acute appendicitis

AIM:To assess the reliability and practical applicability of the widely used Alvarado,Eskelinen,Ohhmann and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis(RIPASA)scoring systems in patients with suspected acute appendicitis.METHODS:Patients admitted to our tertiary center due to suspected acute appendicitis constituted the study group.Patients were divided into two groups.appendicitis group(Group A)consisted of patients who underwent appendectomy and were histopathologically diagnosed with acute appendicitis,and non-appendicitis group(Group N-A)consisted of patients who underwent negative appendectomy and were diagnosed with pathologies other than appendicitis and patients that were followed non-operatively.The operative findings for the patients,the additional analyses from follow up of the patients and the results of those analyses were recorded using the follow-up forms.RESULTS:One hundred and thirteen patients with suspected acute appendicitis were included in the study.Of the 113 patients(62 males,51 females),the mean age was 30.2±10.1(range 18-67)years.Of the 113patients,94 patients underwent surgery,while the rest were followed non-operatively.Of the 94 patients,77patients were histopathologically diagnosed with acute appendicitis.Our study showed a sensitivity level of81%for the Alvarado system when a cut-off value of 6.5was used,a sensitivity level of 83.1%for the Ohmann system when a cut-off value of 13.75 was used,a sensitivity level of 80.5%for the Eskelinen system when a cut-off value of 63.72 was used,and a sensitivity level of 83.1%for the RIPASA system when a cut-off value of 10.25 was used.CONCLUSION:The Ohmann and RIPASA scoring systems had the highest specificity for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.     

Accuracy in the diagnosis of short-segment Barrett's esophagus: the role of endoscopic experience.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus is based on histologic demonstration of specialized intestinal metaplasia. Experience may be important in the endoscopic recognition of Barrett's esophagus, including in regard to appropriate procurement of biopsy specimens. The aim of this study was to assess factors that may influence accuracy in the diagnosis of short-segment Barrett's esophagus (SSB). METHODS: Endoscopy reports pertaining to procedures performed over a 1-year period that included esophageal biopsies because of suspected intestinal metaplasia were reviewed. Barrett's epithelium involving less than 2 cm of the distal esophagus was considered SSB; greater than 2 cm was considered long-segment (LSB). Endoscopists were regarded as "more experienced" if they had completed training more than 5 years earlier and "less experienced" if the time elapsed since the completion of training was less than 5 years. RESULTS: More and less experienced endoscopists both obtained esophageal biopsy specimens because of suspected Barrett's esophagus at the same rate (14%). Length of suspected Barrett's epithelium was not predicted by symptoms or demographic data. Endoscopically, patients with SSB had significantly fewer (64.2% vs. 90.8%) and smaller (2.9 +/- 0.1 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.2 cm) hiatal hernias compared with those with LSB (p < 0.05). Suspected SSB was histologically confirmed in 38.4% (True SSB), whereas LSB was confirmed in 75% (True SSB) (p < 0.05). More experienced endoscopists were significantly more likely to obtain histologic confirmation of SSB than less experienced endoscopists (48.6% vs. 29.5%; p = 0.02, nominal significance from univariate hypothesis testing; correction for multiple testing of data removed significance at the p < 0.05 level; OR = 2.26). CONCLUSION: With greater experience, an endoscopist is more likely to diagnose SSB. This may be due to more accurate procurement of adequate tissue samples, which thereby results in a greater yield of histopathologic diagnoses.     

Campylobacter-like organisms on the human gastric mucosa. Relation to type and extent of gastritis in different clinical groups

Three hundred and thirty-four pyloric type and 244 fundic type gastric mucosal specimens from 135 patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were checked for Campylobacter-like organisms (CLO) by the Warthin-Starry method. CLOs were found in 77/135 (57 p. 100) patients and in 235/578 (41 p. 100) biopsy specimens. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of CLO-positive specimens in the two types of gastric mucosa. The prevalence of CLO-positive specimens was higher in patients with duodenal ulcer than in the other patients (p less than 0.01). In the whole group, 42 p. 100 of the specimens with gastritis showed CLOs. Neither the type nor the activity of gastritis seemed to be relevant. Twenty-two per cent of the pyloric type and 36 p. 100 of the fundic type specimens classed as normal were positive for CLOs. In the normal fundic type mucosa, CLO-positive specimens were more frequent (p less than 0.01) in those patients with CLO-positive specimens from the antral area than in those without CLOs in the antrum. In 41 patients with multiple specimens from either the duodenal bulb and the stomach, chronic non specific duodenitis appeared to be more frequent in patients with CLO-positive antral specimens. The present study provided data on the frequency of gastric CLOs in a mediterranean population and confirmed that an association between CLOs and antral gastritis exists in patients with duodenal ulceration. However, data of the present investigation indicate that no relation between CLOs and the type and activity of gastritis exists and that CLOs are frequently found in the histologically normal mucosa, particularly in the body-gland area.     

Diverticular disease of the appendix

Summary Diverticular disease of the appendix involves about 1 per cent of all appendices removed. Considering the large number, the subject appears to have been neglected in medical literature. Since the symptomatology is similar to that of appendicitis and diverticula are frequently very small, they could go unnoticed. A comparison of 30 cases of diverticular disease and 30 cases of acute appendicitis reveals a few fine differences. The patients with diverticular disease are at least a decade older, the duration of pain in these patients is longer, and the diverticula and appendix may or may not be inflamed.