Appendiceal diverticulitis

Abstract

Diverticulitis has long been known to affect the right colon, and in recent years, our understanding has evolved in regard to the underlying cause. Appendiceal diverticulitis has yet to gain widespread recognition despite the fact that it was first described in 1893. Commonly dismissed by surgeons and pathologists as a variant of true appendicitis, appendiceal diverticulitis is a discrete clinical process that must be considered in the appropriate setting. We describe a case of appendiceal diverticulitis in a previously healthy 59-year-old man and review the literature.