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Query: UMLS:C0085693 (acute appendicitis)
 3,606 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We describe a case of acute appendicitis precipitated by human immunodeficiency virus-related Kaposi's sarcoma of the appendix. This presentation in an otherwise asymptomatic homosexual man led to the establishment of a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Immediate follow-up revealed multicentric gastrointestinal involvement by Kaposi's sarcoma, and skin involvement ensued in 2 months. Salient features of this case and two other similar reports in the literature are highlighted.
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PMID:Human immunodeficiency virus-related Kaposi's sarcoma of the appendix and acute appendicitis. Report of a case and review of the literature. 174 34

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) of the gastro-intestinal tract is a common disease in the AIDS setting, although it is often asymptomatic. In this paper we wish to highlight the occurrence of gastro-intestinal KS with appendiceal involvement. Two of the patients presented with features of acute appendicitis, and KS of the appendix was not suspected at the time of surgery. In the remaining patient KS of the appendix was part of generalised gastro-intestinal involvement. It is important to remember that KS can cause appendicitis by producing a submucosal nodule that abuts into the lumen and thereby causes obstruction. KS of the gastro-intestinal tract may therefore masquerade as 'simple' appendicitis, or indeed remain asymptomatic.
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PMID:Gastro-intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma, with special reference to the appendix. 1022 2

A variety of miscellaneous conditions affect the appendix, both as incidental findings and as causes of clinical signs and symptoms that often mimic appendicitis. Congenital abnormalities of the appendix are rare; the two most commonly reported are congenital absence and appendiceal duplication. Diverticular disease may be an incidental finding, but when inflamed, can be clinically confused with appendicitis. Endometriosis of the appendix, which usually occurs in the setting of generalized gastrointestinal endometriosis, often presents as acute appendicitis, but may present as intussusception, lower intestinal bleeding, and, particularly during pregnancy, perforation. Peritoneal endosalpingiosis often involves the appendiceal serosa and occasionally the wall but has no clinical manifestations in contrast to endometriosis. Vasculitis may be either isolated to the appendix or part of a systemic vasculitis, most often polyarteritis nodosa. Neural proliferations of the appendix include lesions associated with von Recklinghausen's disease, as well as mucosal and axial neuromas that are theorized to progress to fibrous obliteration of the appendix. Mesenchymal tumors of the appendix are most often of smooth muscle type, usually leiomyoma but rarely leiomyosarcoma; nonmyogenic neoplasms such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor, granular cell tumor, Kaposi's sarcoma, and miscellaneous other curiosities occur rarely. Lymphoma affects the appendix exceptionally; in children, Burkitt lymphoma is most common whereas in adults, large cell lymphomas and low grade B-cell lymphomas predominate. Secondary involvement of the appendix by leukemia has been reported. Secondary involvement of the appendix by carcinomas of the female genital tract, particularly ovary, and diverse other sites are in aggregate common but only rarely a clinical or pathological difficulty. Occasionally, however, appendiceal neoplasia that is secondary from another site may dominate the clinical picture and lead to potential pathologic misdiagnosis as primary appendiceal disease.
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PMID:Miscellaneous conditions of the appendix. 1580 74