Sarcoidosis manifesting as acute appendicitis: report of a case.

PURPOSE

This report presents a patient who developed signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis because of sarcoid involvement of the appendix.

METHODS

This is a retrospective case review with review of the English language literature.

RESULTS

The patient underwent appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis. Histologically the appendix had no signs of acute inflammation but did have noncaseating granulomas. The patient's abdominal pain resolved following appendectomy, and she has had no further similar pain in the two years since the operation.

CONCLUSION

Patients with sarcoidosis may develop signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis without inflammation. Operative exploration should not be delayed in equivocal cases of right lower quadrant abdominal pain in patients with sarcoidosis.