AN OPERATED CASE OF PERITONITIS DUE TO PERFORATED DIVERTICULUM OF THE APPENDIX

Diverticulum of the appendix is a relatively rare disease in Japan. Recent experience with a case of generalized peritonitis caused by perforation of appendiceal diverticulum is described, together with some discussion on the relivant literature. A 53-year-old man was seen at the hospital because of lasting abdominal pain after he beared it for about one week. The patient was diagnosed as peritonitis due to perforative appendicitis. Emergency operation was carried out, and it was found that there were findings indicative of generalized peritonitis, the appendix perforated at the middle on non-mesentery side, and the mucosa protruded outside the serosa at the perforated site. Histopathologi-cally, no inflammatory findings were detected in the appendix mucosa. The definite diagnosis of perforation of pseudodiverticulum of the appendix was made. Clinical differentiation between appendix diverticulitis and acute appendicitis is not always easy. Compared to acute appendicitis, appendix diverticulitis reportedly has a long course, but occurrence of perforation in a high rate is recorded. We should cope with acute appendicitis, by entertaining this disease as a probable differential diagnosis.